Compare towns
St. Albans vs North Bennington 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 youngest population (median age 38.7).
North Bennington has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.4%).
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 | North Bennington | Bellows Falls |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,954Highest |
1,336Lowest |
2,891 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.6% VT: +2.8% |
+4.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-12.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 38.7±2Lowest 10% below VT |
43.9±10Highest about the VT average |
41.3±6.7 4% below VT |
| North Bennington 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% |
10.4%±2.9Lowest 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% |
31.9%±8.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
23.7%±5.7 VT: 21.4% |
| North Bennington and Bellows Falls 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% |
41.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
27.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
21.6%±6.5Highest VT: 7% |
8.2%±4.3 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $57,980±$7k 29% below VT |
$68,571±$10kHighest 16% below VT |
$56,086±$2kLowest 31% below VT |
| North Bennington 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±$18k 17% below VT |
$313,000±$40kHighest about the VT average |
$195,600±$35kLowest 38% below VT |
| North Bennington and St. Albans are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,150±$78 7% below VT |
$1,447±$278Highest 17% above VT |
$1,038±$109Lowest 16% below VT |
| North Bennington 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 12% below VT |
$5,590Highest 11% above VT |
$4,448 12% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.8%±11.8 VT: 48.4% |
53.7%±26.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
43.9%±16.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| North Bennington 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% |
7.4%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
25.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 49%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
61.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
50.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1945 31 yrs older than VT |
1957Highest 19 yrs older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minHighest 4% below VT |
18 minLowest 24% below VT |
20 min 14% below VT |
| Work from home | 12.1%±3.5 VT: 16.9% |
17.3%±7.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.9%±5.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| North Bennington 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 | — | — |
| High school in town | Bellows Free Academy (St. Albans) | — | — |
| 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.