Compare towns
St. Albans vs Sharon 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).
Sharon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.9%).
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 | Sharon | Bellows Falls |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,954Highest |
1,577Lowest |
2,891 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.6% VT: +2.8% |
+3.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-12.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 38.7±2Lowest 10% below VT |
45.6±7.7Highest 6% above VT |
41.3±6.7 4% below VT |
| Sharon 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%±3.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21%±5 VT: 17.9% |
22.6%±6.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Bellows Falls and Sharon 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% |
25.1%±3.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
23.7%±5.7 VT: 21.4% |
| Sharon 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% |
37.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
27.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.6 VT: 7% |
1.5%±0.9Lowest 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 |
$84,375±$17kHighest 4% above VT |
$56,086±$2kLowest 31% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $263,400±$18k 17% below VT |
$346,700±$37kHighest 10% above VT |
$195,600±$35kLowest 38% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,150±$78 7% below VT |
$1,386±$155Highest 12% above VT |
$1,038±$109Lowest 16% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,436Lowest 12% below VT |
$5,903Highest 17% above VT |
$4,448 12% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.8%±11.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
19.8%±17.9Lowest 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% |
3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
25.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 49%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
79.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
50.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1945 31 yrs older than VT |
1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 4% below VT |
26 minHighest 12% above VT |
20 minLowest 14% below VT |
| Work from home | 12.1%±3.5 VT: 16.9% |
12.7%±3.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.9%±5.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Sharon 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 | Sharon 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 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.