Compare towns
White River Junction vs Townsend vs St. Albans
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
White River Junction has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.8%).
Townsend has the most homeowners (82%).
St. Albans has the most affordable homes ($263k 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 | White River Junction | Townsend | St. Albans |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,364Lowest |
9,100Highest |
6,954 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 33.7±3.2Lowest 13% below U.S. |
40.9±3.3Highest 5% above U.S. |
38.7±2 about the U.S. average |
| Townsend and St. Albans are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.1%±5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21%±3.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Townsend and St. Albans are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 12.5%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.1%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
13.9%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Townsend and St. Albans are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 38.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
31.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.2%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Townsend 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 | $77,168±$4k 4% below U.S. |
$121,528±$23kHighest 51% above U.S. |
$57,980±$7kLowest 28% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $278,800±$78k 16% below U.S. |
$433,200±$22kHighest 30% above U.S. |
$263,400±$18kLowest 21% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,222±$216 14% below U.S. |
$1,469±$313Highest 4% above U.S. |
$1,150±$78Lowest 19% below U.S. |
| Townsend and White River Junction are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,651 81% above U.S. |
$6,031Highest 93% above U.S. |
$4,436Lowest 42% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.9%±17.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
51.8%±11.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| St. Albans and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 12.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
19.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 43.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
49% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1945Lowest 35 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 15 minLowest 42% below U.S. |
37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
23 min 14% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.7%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.1%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | — | #136 of 282 in MA | #46 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | North Middlesex | Maple Run Unified Union School District #57 |
| High school in town | — | North Middlesex Regional | Bellows Free Academy (St. Albans) |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.1Highest |
11.4Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.