Compare towns
Northfield vs Unity vs St. Albans
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Northfield has the most people working from home (12.1%).
Unity has the oldest population (median age 58).
St. Albans has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.5%).
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.
| Measure | Northfield | Unity | St. Albans |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,920 |
1,375Lowest |
7,057Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
-9.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 36.4±4.1Lowest 6% below U.S. |
58±4.5Highest 49% above U.S. |
41.3±2.8 6% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 14.6%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
12%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20%±4.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| St. Albans and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
34.9%±7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.8%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
21.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
33.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 15.1%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.1%±4.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $71,768±$13kLowest 11% below U.S. |
$87,500±$16k 8% above U.S. |
$90,060±$19kHighest 12% above U.S. |
| St. Albans and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $274,400±$21kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$276,100±$29k 17% below U.S. |
$363,300±$22kHighest 9% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,018±$207Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,625±$804Highest 15% above U.S. |
$1,460±$152 3% above U.S. |
| Unity and St. Albans are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,878 56% above U.S. |
$5,394Highest 73% above U.S. |
$4,689Lowest 50% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.3%±17.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
73.6%±20.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| St. Albans and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 12.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 3% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 32% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 12.1%±4.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.5%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.7%±5.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Northfield and St. Albans are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #42 of 70 in VT | — | #46 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 | Unity School District | — |
| High school in town | Northfield Middle/High School | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.0 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 4 photos → | 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.