Compare towns
Bellows Falls vs Barton vs Westminster
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bellows Falls has the shortest commute (20 min average).
Barton has the most affordable homes ($147k median).
Westminster has the most homeowners (88.2%).
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 | Bellows Falls | Barton | Westminster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,891 |
730Lowest |
2,999Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -12.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-6.4% VT: +2.8% |
-5.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 41.3±6.7 4% below VT |
40±5.5Lowest 7% below VT |
53.5±3.7Highest 24% above VT |
| Kids under 18 | 22.6%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
24.1%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.2%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Barton and Bellows Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 23.7%±5.7 VT: 21.4% |
21.2%±4.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
27.6%±6.8Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Westminster and Bellows Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 27.5% VT: 43.8% |
21.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
46.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.2%±4.3Highest VT: 7% |
1.9%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
4.4%±3.1 VT: 7% |
| Bellows Falls and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $56,086±$2k 31% below VT |
$40,833±$8kLowest 50% below VT |
$71,491±$4kHighest 12% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $195,600±$35k 38% below VT |
$146,900±$30kLowest 54% below VT |
$273,800±$35kHighest 14% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,038±$109Highest 16% below VT |
$761±$150Lowest 38% below VT |
$916±$126 26% below VT |
| Bellows Falls and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,448Highest 12% below VT |
$3,185Lowest 37% below VT |
$4,063 19% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.9%±16.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
58.8%±18.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
49.2%±7.5 VT: 48.4% |
| Barton and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 25.1% VT: 10.1% |
25.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 50.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
52.7% VT: 73.2% |
88.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1945 31 yrs older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 14% below VT |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 6.9%±5.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
16.5%±10.4 VT: 16.9% |
27%±6.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Westminster and Barton 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 | — | #38 of 70 in VT | #53 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | — | Bellows Falls Union High School District #27 · Westminster School District |
| High school in town | — | — | Bellows Falls Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.6 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.