Compare towns
St. Albans vs Strafford vs Bellows Falls
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 youngest population (median age 38.7).
Strafford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
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 | Strafford | Bellows Falls |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,954Highest |
4,306 |
2,891Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-12.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.7±2Lowest about the U.S. average |
46.3±2.1Highest 19% above U.S. |
41.3±6.7 6% above U.S. |
| Strafford 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 U.S.: 22% |
17.6%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.6%±6.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.4%±4.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
23.7%±5.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bellows Falls and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
40.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
27.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.2%±4.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Bellows Falls and Strafford 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 28% below U.S. |
$122,105±$22kHighest 51% above U.S. |
$56,086±$2kLowest 31% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $263,400±$18k 21% below U.S. |
$427,900±$29kHighest 29% above U.S. |
$195,600±$35kLowest 41% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,150±$78 19% below U.S. |
$1,635±$246Highest 16% above U.S. |
$1,038±$109Lowest 27% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,436Lowest 42% above U.S. |
$6,086Highest 95% above U.S. |
$4,448 43% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.8%±11.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
76.3%±30.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.9%±16.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Strafford 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
25.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 49%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
50.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1945 35 yrs older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 14% below U.S. |
36 minHighest 36% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 24% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.1%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.9%±5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.9%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Strafford 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 | #73 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Maple Run Unified Union School District #57 | Strafford 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 |
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.