Compare towns
St. Albans vs Williston vs Bellows Falls vs Barre
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 youngest population (median age 38.7).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Bellows Falls has the most kids (22.6% under 18).
Barre has the shortest commute (19 min average).
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 | Williston | Bellows Falls | Barre |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,954 |
10,144Highest |
2,891Lowest |
8,412 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.6% VT: +2.8% |
+16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-12.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-6.2% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 38.7±2Lowest 10% below VT |
45.4±4.5Highest 5% above VT |
41.3±6.7 4% below VT |
42.2±6.6 about the VT average |
| Williston and Barre 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% |
20.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
22.6%±6.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
13.5%±3.8Lowest 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%±2.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
23.7%±5.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.4%±3.9 VT: 21.4% |
| Bellows Falls and Williston 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% |
54.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
27.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
36.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7 VT: 7% |
8.2%±4.3Highest VT: 7% |
3.4%±1.9 VT: 7% |
| Bellows Falls and Williston 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 |
$106,967±$12kHighest 32% above VT |
$56,086±$2kLowest 31% below VT |
$65,625±$7k 19% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $263,400±$18k 17% below VT |
$475,800±$40kHighest 50% above VT |
$195,600±$35kLowest 38% below VT |
$210,400±$15k 34% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,150±$78 7% below VT |
$1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
$1,038±$109Lowest 16% below VT |
$1,093±$58 11% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,436Lowest 12% below VT |
$5,592Highest 11% above VT |
$4,448 12% below VT |
$5,192 3% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.8%±11.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4 VT: 48.4% |
43.9%±16.8 VT: 48.4% |
34.4%±10.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| St. Albans and Williston 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% |
4.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
25.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
17.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 49%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
75.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
50.7% VT: 73.2% |
50.4% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1945 31 yrs older than VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1947 29 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minHighest 4% below VT |
20 min 16% below VT |
20 min 14% below VT |
19 minLowest 21% below VT |
| Work from home | 12.1%±3.5 VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.9%±5.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
10.5%±4.1 VT: 16.9% |
| Williston 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 | #11 of 70 in VT | — | #19 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Maple Run Unified Union School District #57 | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | — | Barre Unified Union School District #97 · Central Vermont Career Center |
| High school in town | Bellows Free Academy (St. Albans) | None in town | — | 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.