Compare towns
St. Albans vs Jay 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 the most expensive homes ($263k median).
Jay has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
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 | Jay | Bellows Falls |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,954Highest |
471Lowest |
2,891 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.6% VT: +2.8% |
+5.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-12.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 38.7±2Lowest 10% below VT |
52.1±10.5Highest 21% above VT |
41.3±6.7 4% below VT |
| Jay and Bellows Falls 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% |
14.2%±7.3Lowest 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% |
15.5%±6.3 VT: 21.4% |
23.7%±5.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Bellows Falls and Jay 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% |
45.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
27.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.6 VT: 7% |
1.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
8.2%±4.3Highest VT: 7% |
| Bellows Falls 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 |
$56,086±$2kLowest 31% below VT |
| Jay 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 |
$234,200±$45k 26% below VT |
$195,600±$35kLowest 38% 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 |
— | $1,038±$109Lowest 16% below VT |
| St. Albans and Bellows Falls 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 |
$4,448Highest 12% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.8%±11.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
40%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
43.9%±16.8 VT: 48.4% |
| St. Albans and Bellows Falls 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% |
8.7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
25.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 49%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
50.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1945 31 yrs older than VT |
2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 4% below VT |
40 minHighest 69% above VT |
20 minLowest 14% below VT |
| Work from home | 12.1%±3.5 VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.9%±5.3Lowest 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 | — | — |
| School district | Maple Run Unified Union School District #57 | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary 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 History | 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.