Compare towns
St. Albans vs Jay vs Barre vs Windsor
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 the most expensive homes ($263k median).
Jay has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
Barre has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Windsor has the most affordable homes ($208k 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 | Jay | Barre | Windsor |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,954 |
471Lowest |
8,412Highest |
3,554 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.6% VT: +2.8% |
+5.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-6.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+0.2% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 38.7±2Lowest 10% below VT |
52.1±10.5Highest 21% above VT |
42.2±6.6 about the VT average |
44.8±6.5 4% above VT |
| Jay and Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.5%±3.7Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.2%±7.3 VT: 17.9% |
13.5%±3.8Lowest VT: 17.9% |
19.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
| St. Albans and Windsor 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% |
15.5%±6.3 VT: 21.4% |
19.4%±3.9 VT: 21.4% |
29.7%±6.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Windsor 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 VT: 43.8% |
45.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
36.1% VT: 43.8% |
39.7% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.6 VT: 7% |
1.9%±2.5 VT: 7% |
3.4%±1.9Highest VT: 7% |
0.7%±0.8Lowest VT: 7% |
| Barre and St. Albans are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $57,980±$7k 29% below VT |
$74,792±$25kHighest 8% below VT |
$65,625±$7k 19% below VT |
$52,484±$11kLowest 35% below VT |
| Jay 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±$18kHighest 17% below VT |
$234,200±$45k 26% below VT |
$210,400±$15k 34% below VT |
$207,500±$31kLowest 34% below VT |
| St. Albans and Jay 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 |
— | $1,093±$58 11% below VT |
$1,026±$89Lowest 17% below VT |
| St. Albans and Barre 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 |
$3,588Lowest 29% below VT |
$5,192 3% above VT |
$5,209Highest 3% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.8%±11.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
40%±100 VT: 48.4% |
34.4%±10.3 VT: 48.4% |
31.5%±17Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| St. Albans and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 19.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.7% VT: 10.1% |
17.3% VT: 10.1% |
7.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 49%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
50.4% VT: 73.2% |
57.8% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1945Lowest 31 yrs older than VT |
2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1947 29 yrs older than VT |
1945Lowest 31 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 4% below VT |
40 minHighest 69% above VT |
19 minLowest 21% below VT |
23 min 3% below VT |
| Work from home | 12.1%±3.5 VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
10.5%±4.1 VT: 16.9% |
10.3%±5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Jay 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 | #61 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Maple Run Unified Union School District #57 | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary 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 History | None yet | None yet | None yet | 12 photos → |
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.