Compare towns
St. Albans vs Swanton 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.6%).
Swanton has the most homeowners (64.8%).
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 | Swanton | Bellows Falls |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,954Highest |
2,670Lowest |
2,891 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.4% VT: +2.8% |
-12.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 38.7±2 10% below VT |
37.8±4.7Lowest 12% below VT |
41.3±6.7Highest 4% below VT |
| Bellows Falls and St. Albans 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% |
24.3%±8.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
22.6%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
| Swanton and Bellows Falls 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% |
19.3%±2.7 VT: 21.4% |
23.7%±5.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Bellows Falls and Swanton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
20.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
27.5% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.6 VT: 7% |
2.2%±1.7Lowest 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 |
$66,607±$27kHighest 18% below VT |
$56,086±$2kLowest 31% below VT |
| Swanton 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 |
$229,000±$15k 28% below VT |
$195,600±$35kLowest 38% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,150±$78 7% below VT |
$1,238±$103Highest about the VT average |
$1,038±$109Lowest 16% below VT |
| Swanton and St. Albans 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 |
$4,370Lowest 13% below VT |
$4,448Highest 12% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.8%±11.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
36.1%±21.6Lowest 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%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
20.1% VT: 10.1% |
25.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 49%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
64.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
50.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1945 31 yrs older than VT |
1952Highest 24 yrs older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minHighest 4% below VT |
21 min 9% below VT |
20 minLowest 14% below VT |
| Work from home | 12.1%±3.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
7.4%±4.8 VT: 16.9% |
6.9%±5.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| St. Albans and Swanton 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.