Compare towns
St. Albans vs Strafford vs White River Junction
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 affordable homes ($263k median).
Strafford has the most homeowners (88.9%).
White River Junction has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.8%).
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 | White River Junction |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,954Highest |
1,372Lowest |
3,364 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.4% VT: +2.8% |
+10.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 38.7±2 10% below VT |
51.4±4.7Highest 19% above VT |
33.7±3.2Lowest 22% below VT |
| Kids under 18 | 20.5%±3.7 VT: 17.9% |
23%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
17.1%±5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Strafford and St. Albans are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 13.9%±2.5 VT: 21.4% |
22.1%±3.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
12.5%±3.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
53.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
38.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.6 VT: 7% |
5.1%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
1.2%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Strafford 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±$7kLowest 29% below VT |
$110,833±$19kHighest 36% above VT |
$77,168±$4k 5% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $263,400±$18kLowest 17% below VT |
$431,300±$40kHighest 36% above VT |
$278,800±$78k 12% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,150±$78 7% below VT |
$1,125±$789Lowest 9% below VT |
$1,222±$216Highest about the VT average |
| White River Junction 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 |
$7,149Highest 42% above VT |
$5,651 12% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.8%±11.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±48 VT: 48.4% |
42.9%±17.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| St. Albans and Strafford 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% |
5.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
12.1% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 49% VT: 73.2% |
88.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
43.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1945Lowest 31 yrs older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1963 13 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 4% below VT |
23 minHighest about the VT average |
15 minLowest 35% below VT |
| Work from home | 12.1%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±4.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
15.7%±5.8 VT: 16.9% |
| Strafford and White River Junction 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 | 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 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.