What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Ashland has the most homeowners (64.1%).

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	St. Albans	Ashland
People
Population	6,954Highest	2,183Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-0.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-6.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	38.7±2Lowest about the U.S. average	42.3±11.2Highest 9% above U.S.
	Ashland and St. Albans are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	20.5%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 22%	21.4%±6.4Highest U.S.: 22%
	Ashland and St. Albans are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	13.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	25.8%±5.3Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	31.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	35.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.7%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4%	2.7%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$57,980±$7kHighest 28% below U.S.	$54,607±$9kLowest 32% below U.S.
	St. Albans and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$263,400±$18kHighest 21% below U.S.	$227,000±$29kLowest 32% below U.S.
	St. Albans and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,150±$78Highest 19% below U.S.	$1,096±$155Lowest 22% below U.S.
	St. Albans and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,436Lowest 42% above U.S.	$4,961Highest 59% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	51.8%±11.8Highest U.S.: 51.1%	39.1%±14.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	St. Albans and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	19.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	21.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	49%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	64.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1945Lowest 35 yrs older than U.S.	1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	23 minLowest 14% below U.S.	26 minHighest about the U.S. average
Work from home	12.1%±3.5Highest U.S.: 15.1%	9.9%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	St. Albans and Ashland 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	#46 of 70 in VT	—
School district	Maple Run Unified Union School District #57	Ashland School District
High school in town	Bellows Free Academy (St. Albans)	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	11.4	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.