What stands out worked out from the figures below

Lowell has the youngest population (median age 32.9).

Albany has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.7%).

What matters to you?

Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Lowell	Albany
People
Population	1,070Highest	934Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+0.9%Lowest VT: +2.8%	+3.7%Highest VT: +2.8%
Median age	32.9±6.5Lowest 24% below VT	42.4±6.2Highest about the VT average
	Albany and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	30.7%±6.2Lowest VT: 17.9%	31%±10.3Highest VT: 17.9%
	Albany and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	12.3%±4.1Lowest VT: 21.4%	16.4%±6.5Highest VT: 21.4%
	Albany and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	19.2%Lowest VT: 43.8%	45.3%Highest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.8%±1.9Lowest VT: 7%	6.3%±4.1Highest VT: 7%
	Albany and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$57,404±$15kLowest 29% below VT	$59,167±$14kHighest 27% below VT
	Albany and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$183,400±$33kLowest 42% below VT	$231,500±$12kHighest 27% below VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$945±$46Lowest 23% below VT	$1,114±$23Highest 10% below VT
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,810Lowest 44% below VT	$4,093Highest 19% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	26.3%±92.9Lowest VT: 48.4%	44%±65.2Highest VT: 48.4%
	Albany and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	9.6%Highest VT: 10.1%	8%Lowest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	94.1%Highest VT: 73.2%	93.1%Lowest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT	1983Lowest 7 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	55 minHighest 135% above VT	28 minLowest 17% above VT
Work from home	7.5%±2.3Lowest VT: 16.9%	20%±11.6Highest VT: 16.9%
	Albany and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Lowell School District	Lake Region Union Elementary Middle School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	None yet	None yet

VT average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.