Compare towns
St. Albans vs White River Junction vs Barre 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
White River Junction has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.8%).
Barre has the oldest population (median age 42.2).
Bellows Falls has the most kids (22.6% under 18).
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 | White River Junction | Barre | Bellows Falls |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,954 |
3,364 |
8,412Highest |
2,891Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.6% VT: +2.8% |
+10.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-6.2% VT: +2.8% |
-12.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 38.7±2 10% below VT |
33.7±3.2Lowest 22% below VT |
42.2±6.6Highest about the VT average |
41.3±6.7 4% below VT |
| Barre 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% |
17.1%±5 VT: 17.9% |
13.5%±3.8Lowest 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%±2.5 VT: 21.4% |
12.5%±3.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
19.4%±3.9 VT: 21.4% |
23.7%±5.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Bellows Falls and Barre 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% |
38.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
36.1% VT: 43.8% |
27.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.6 VT: 7% |
1.2%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
3.4%±1.9 VT: 7% |
8.2%±4.3Highest VT: 7% |
| Bellows Falls and Barre 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 |
$77,168±$4kHighest 5% below VT |
$65,625±$7k 19% below VT |
$56,086±$2kLowest 31% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $263,400±$18k 17% below VT |
$278,800±$78kHighest 12% below VT |
$210,400±$15k 34% below VT |
$195,600±$35kLowest 38% below VT |
| White River Junction 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 |
$1,222±$216Highest about the VT average |
$1,093±$58 11% below VT |
$1,038±$109Lowest 16% below VT |
| 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 |
$5,651Highest 12% above VT |
$5,192 3% above VT |
$4,448 12% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.8%±11.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
42.9%±17.3 VT: 48.4% |
34.4%±10.3Lowest 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% |
12.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
17.3% VT: 10.1% |
25.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 49% VT: 73.2% |
43.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
50.4% VT: 73.2% |
50.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1945 31 yrs older than VT |
1963Highest 13 yrs older than VT |
1947 29 yrs older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minHighest 4% below VT |
15 minLowest 35% below VT |
19 min 21% below VT |
20 min 14% below VT |
| Work from home | 12.1%±3.5 VT: 16.9% |
15.7%±5.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
10.5%±4.1 VT: 16.9% |
6.9%±5.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| White River Junction 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 | — | #19 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Maple Run Unified Union School District #57 | — | Barre Unified Union School District #97 · Central Vermont Career Center | — |
| High school in town | Bellows Free Academy (St. Albans) | — | Spaulding Union High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4Highest |
— | 10.7Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.