Compare towns
St. Albans vs White River Junction vs Sheldon
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).
White River Junction has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.8%).
Sheldon has the most homeowners (89%).
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 | Sheldon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,954Highest |
3,364 |
2,267Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.6% VT: +2.8% |
+10.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 38.7±2 10% below VT |
33.7±3.2Lowest 22% below VT |
40.9±3.5Highest 5% below VT |
| Sheldon 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%±3.7 VT: 17.9% |
17.1%±5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23.7%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Sheldon and St. Albans are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 13.9%±2.5Highest VT: 21.4% |
12.5%±3.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3 VT: 21.4% |
| St. Albans and Sheldon 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% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.6Highest VT: 7% |
1.2%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
2%±1.3 VT: 7% |
| St. Albans and Sheldon 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 |
$77,168±$4k 5% below VT |
$78,533±$25kHighest 3% below VT |
| Sheldon and White River Junction are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $263,400±$18kLowest 17% below VT |
$278,800±$78kHighest 12% below VT |
$272,400±$61k 14% below VT |
| White River Junction and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,150±$78Lowest 7% below VT |
$1,222±$216 about the VT average |
$1,286±$379Highest 4% above VT |
| Sheldon and White River Junction 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 |
$5,651Highest 12% above VT |
$3,578Lowest 29% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.8%±11.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
42.9%±17.3 VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| St. Albans and White River Junction 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% |
12.1% VT: 10.1% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 49% VT: 73.2% |
43.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
89%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1945Lowest 31 yrs older than VT |
1963 13 yrs older than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 4% below VT |
15 minLowest 35% below VT |
25 minHighest 7% above VT |
| Work from home | 12.1%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
15.7%±5.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
| White River Junction and Sheldon 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 | — | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 |
| 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.