What stands out worked out from the figures below

Nelson has the most people working from home (31.5%).

St. Albans has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.6%).

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	Nelson	St. Albans
People
Population	648Lowest	6,954Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-13.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	-0.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	42.3±11.7Highest 9% above U.S.	38.7±2Lowest about the U.S. average
	Nelson and St. Albans are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	27.5%±6.6Highest U.S.: 22%	20.5%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Nelson and St. Albans are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	24.8%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2%	13.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	61.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	31.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	0.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	2.7%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	St. Albans and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$99,792±$23kHighest 24% above U.S.	$57,980±$7kLowest 28% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$340,900±$49kHighest about the U.S. average	$263,400±$18kLowest 21% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,203±$243Highest 15% below U.S.	$1,150±$78Lowest 19% below U.S.
	Nelson and St. Albans are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,575Highest 79% above U.S.	$4,436Lowest 42% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	40%±68.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	51.8%±11.8Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	St. Albans and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	19.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	90.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	49%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S.	1945Lowest 35 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minHighest 8% below U.S.	23 minLowest 14% below U.S.
Work from home	31.5%±8Highest U.S.: 15.1%	12.1%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	—	#46 of 70 in VT
School district	Nelson School District	Maple Run Unified Union School District #57
High school in town	None in town	Bellows Free Academy (St. Albans)
Students per teacherat that high school	—	11.4
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

U.S. 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.