Compare towns

Bellows Falls vs Brattleboro vs Newport

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 most kids (22.6% under 18).
Brattleboro has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.1%).
Newport has the shortest commute (15 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.

MeasureBellows FallsBrattleboroNewport
People
Population
2,891Lowest
12,122Highest
4,394
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-12.7%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
+1.1%Highest
VT: +2.8%
-2.9%
VT: +2.8%
Median age
41.3±6.7Lowest
4% below VT
45.6±4.5
6% above VT
46.4±4.3Highest
8% above VT
Newport and Brattleboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
22.6%±6.4Highest
VT: 17.9%
19%±2.8
VT: 17.9%
13.2%±3.9Lowest
VT: 17.9%
Bellows Falls and Brattleboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
23.7%±5.7Lowest
VT: 21.4%
25.5%±3.2
VT: 21.4%
25.8%±4.7Highest
VT: 21.4%
Newport and Brattleboro 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%
46.5%Highest
VT: 43.8%
25.1%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
8.2%±4.3Highest
VT: 7%
4.1%±1.6
VT: 7%
2.8%±1.5Lowest
VT: 7%
Bellows Falls and Brattleboro 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
$58,241±$8kHighest
28% below VT
$54,646±$12kLowest
33% below VT
Brattleboro and Bellows Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$195,600±$35k
38% below VT
$257,300±$18kHighest
19% below VT
$179,400±$11kLowest
43% below VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,038±$109
16% below VT
$1,074±$58Highest
13% below VT
$850±$49Lowest
31% below VT
Brattleboro and Bellows Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,448
12% below VT
$5,700Highest
13% above VT
$4,036Lowest
20% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
43.9%±16.8Lowest
VT: 48.4%
46.9%±9.6
VT: 48.4%
48.2%±15.8Highest
VT: 48.4%
Newport and Brattleboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
25.1%Highest
VT: 10.1%
17.8%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
23%
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
50.7%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
58.5%Highest
VT: 73.2%
57.6%
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1938Lowest
38 yrs older than VT
1955
21 yrs older than VT
1966Highest
10 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
20 minHighest
14% below VT
19 min
19% below VT
15 minLowest
38% below VT
Work from home
6.9%±5.3Lowest
VT: 16.9%
17.9%±4Highest
VT: 16.9%
16.8%±8.3
VT: 16.9%
Brattleboro and Newport 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 — #33 of 70 in VT #63 of 70 in VT
School district — Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 Newport City School District · North Country Union High School District
High school in town — Brattleboro Union High School North Country Union High School
Students per teacherat that high school —
9.0Lowest
10.7Highest
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.