Compare towns
St. Albans vs Castleton vs Bellows Falls
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
St. Albans has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.6%).
Castleton has the most homeowners (79%).
Bellows Falls has the most affordable homes ($196k median).
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 | St. Albans | Castleton | Bellows Falls |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,954Highest |
4,453 |
2,891Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-5.5% VT: +2.8% |
-12.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 38.7±2 10% below VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
41.3±6.7Highest 4% below VT |
| Bellows Falls 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%±3.7 VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
22.6%±6.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Bellows Falls 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 VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
23.7%±5.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Bellows Falls and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31.7% VT: 43.8% |
37.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
27.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
8.2%±4.3 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $57,980±$7k 29% below VT |
$73,854±$23kHighest 9% below VT |
$56,086±$2kLowest 31% below VT |
| Castleton and St. Albans are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $263,400±$18kHighest 17% below VT |
$224,800±$71k 29% below VT |
$195,600±$35kLowest 38% below VT |
| St. Albans and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,150±$78Highest 7% below VT |
$1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$1,038±$109Lowest 16% below VT |
| St. Albans and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,436 12% below VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$4,448Highest 12% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.8%±11.8 VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
43.9%±16.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and St. Albans are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 19.5% VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
25.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 49%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
79%Highest VT: 73.2% |
50.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1945 31 yrs older than VT |
1974Highest 2 yrs older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minHighest 4% below VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
20 min 14% below VT |
| Work from home | 12.1%±3.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
6.9%±5.3 VT: 16.9% |
| St. Albans and Bellows Falls 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 | #39 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Maple Run Unified Union School District #57 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | — |
| 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 | 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.