Compare towns

St. Albans vs Hudson vs Barre

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

St. Albans has the most kids (20.5% under 18).
Hudson has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.8%).
Barre has the most affordable homes ($210k 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.

MeasureSt. AlbansHudsonBarre
People
Population
6,954Lowest
25,557Highest
8,412
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-0.6%
U.S.: +7.4%
+3.8%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-6.2%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
38.7±2Lowest
about the U.S. average
45.7±1.9Highest
17% above U.S.
42.2±6.6
8% above U.S.
Hudson and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
20.5%±3.7Highest
U.S.: 22%
16.8%±2.1
U.S.: 22%
13.5%±3.8Lowest
U.S.: 22%
St. Albans and Hudson 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%
20.7%±2.4Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
19.4%±3.9
U.S.: 17.2%
Hudson and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
31.7%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
34.2%
U.S.: 35.7%
36.1%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.7%±1.6Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
7%±1.7Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.4%±1.9
U.S.: 6.4%
Hudson and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$57,980±$7kLowest
28% below U.S.
$124,213±$6kHighest
54% above U.S.
$65,625±$7k
19% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$263,400±$18k
21% below U.S.
$438,900±$11kHighest
32% above U.S.
$210,400±$15kLowest
37% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,150±$78
19% below U.S.
$1,735±$123Highest
23% above U.S.
$1,093±$58Lowest
23% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,436Lowest
42% above U.S.
$6,636Highest
113% above U.S.
$5,192
66% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
51.8%±11.8Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
34.3%±7.2Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
34.4%±10.3
U.S.: 51.1%
St. Albans and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
19.5%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
4.6%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
17.3%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
49%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
82.6%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
50.4%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1945Lowest
35 yrs older than U.S.
1983Highest
3 yrs newer than U.S.
1947
33 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
23 min
14% below U.S.
31 minHighest
19% above U.S.
19 minLowest
30% below U.S.
Work from home
12.1%±3.5
U.S.: 15.1%
19.6%±3.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
10.5%±4.1Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #46 of 70 in VT #63 of 120 in NH #19 of 70 in VT
School district Maple Run Unified Union School District #57 Hudson School District Barre Unified Union School District #97 · Central Vermont Career Center
High school in town Bellows Free Academy (St. Albans) Alvirne High School Spaulding Union High School
Students per teacherat that high school
11.4
11.6Highest
10.7Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet 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.