Compare towns

St. Albans vs Jackson 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).
Jackson has grown the fastest since 2010 (+26%).
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. AlbansJacksonBarre
People
Population
6,954
897Lowest
8,412Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-0.6%
U.S.: +7.4%
+26%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-6.2%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
38.7±2Lowest
about the U.S. average
60.5±2.5Highest
56% above U.S.
42.2±6.6
8% above U.S.
Kids under 18
20.5%±3.7Highest
U.S.: 22%
4.1%±4.1Lowest
U.S.: 22%
13.5%±3.8
U.S.: 22%
St. Albans and Barre 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%
28.4%±6.4Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
19.4%±3.9
U.S.: 17.2%
Jackson 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%
67.7%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
36.1%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.7%±1.6Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
3%±3.4
U.S.: 6.4%
3.4%±1.9Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Barre and Jackson 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.
$117,986±$46kHighest
46% above U.S.
$65,625±$7k
19% below U.S.
Jackson and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$263,400±$18k
21% below U.S.
$719,300±$109kHighest
116% above U.S.
$210,400±$15kLowest
37% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,150±$78
19% below U.S.
$1,750±$1kHighest
24% above U.S.
$1,093±$58Lowest
23% below U.S.
Jackson and St. Albans 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.
$6,001Highest
92% above U.S.
$5,192
66% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
51.8%±11.8Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
21.1%±59.9Lowest
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%
16.9%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
17.3%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
49%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
91.4%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
50.4%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1945Lowest
35 yrs older than U.S.
1980Highest
same as U.S.
1947
33 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
23 minHighest
14% below U.S.
19 minLowest
30% below U.S.
19 min
30% below U.S.
Work from home
12.1%±3.5
U.S.: 15.1%
22.2%±10.2Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
10.5%±4.1Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Jackson 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 #46 of 70 in VT — #19 of 70 in VT
School district Maple Run Unified Union School District #57 Jackson School District Barre Unified Union School District #97 · Central Vermont Career Center
High school in town Bellows Free Academy (St. Albans) None in town Spaulding Union High School
Students per teacherat that high school
11.4Highest
—
10.7Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story 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.