Compare towns
Bellows Falls vs Castleton vs Proctor 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 renters (49.3% rent).
Castleton has the youngest population (median age 38.3).
Proctor has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.3%).
Newport has the most people working from home (16.8%).
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 | Castleton | Proctor | Newport |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,891 |
4,453Highest |
1,794Lowest |
4,394 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -12.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-5.5% VT: +2.8% |
+1.3%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.9% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 41.3±6.7 4% below VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
42.4±6.4 about the VT average |
46.4±4.3Highest 8% above VT |
| Newport and Proctor 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% |
18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
21.8%±4.4 VT: 17.9% |
13.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Bellows Falls and Proctor 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% |
20.7%±4.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.4%±2.5 VT: 21.4% |
25.8%±4.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Newport 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% |
37.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
28.1% VT: 43.8% |
25.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.2%±4.3 VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
3.6%±1.7 VT: 7% |
2.8%±1.5Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $56,086±$2k 31% below VT |
$73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$74,167±$12kHighest 9% below VT |
$54,646±$12kLowest 33% below VT |
| Proctor and Castleton 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 |
$224,800±$71kHighest 29% below VT |
$209,900±$17k 34% below VT |
$179,400±$11kLowest 43% below VT |
| Castleton and Proctor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,038±$109 16% below VT |
$1,137±$195Highest 8% below VT |
$1,029±$202 17% below VT |
$850±$49Lowest 31% below VT |
| Castleton and Bellows Falls 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 |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$4,032 20% below VT |
$4,036 20% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.9%±16.8 VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
37.3%±16.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
48.2%±15.8 VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Newport 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% |
12.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
16.2% VT: 10.1% |
23% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 50.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
79% VT: 73.2% |
86.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
57.6% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1974Highest 2 yrs older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1966 10 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 14% below VT |
19 min 17% below VT |
22 minHighest 6% below VT |
15 minLowest 38% below VT |
| Work from home | 6.9%±5.3 VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
9.4%±4.6 VT: 16.9% |
16.8%±8.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Newport and Proctor 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 | — | #39 of 70 in VT | — | #63 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Quarry Valley Unified Union School District #70 | Newport City School District · North Country Union High School District |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Proctor Junior/Senior High School | North Country Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 8.7Lowest |
10.7Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 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.