Compare towns

Bellows Falls vs Exeter vs Newport

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Bellows Falls has the most kids (22.6% under 18).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
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 FallsExeterNewport
People
Population
2,891Lowest
16,151Highest
4,394
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-12.7%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+12.2%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-2.9%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
41.3±6.7Lowest
6% above U.S.
45.8±2.3
18% above U.S.
46.4±4.3Highest
19% above U.S.
Newport and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
22.6%±6.4Highest
U.S.: 22%
17%±2.7
U.S.: 22%
13.2%±3.9Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Bellows Falls and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
23.7%±5.7Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
24.4%±2.8
U.S.: 17.2%
25.8%±4.7Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Newport and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
27.5%
U.S.: 35.7%
59.2%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
25.1%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
8.2%±4.3Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
6.1%±1.8
U.S.: 6.4%
2.8%±1.5Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Bellows Falls and Exeter 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 U.S.
$110,346±$13kHighest
37% above U.S.
$54,646±$12kLowest
32% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$195,600±$35k
41% below U.S.
$456,600±$21kHighest
37% above U.S.
$179,400±$11kLowest
46% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,038±$109
27% below U.S.
$1,856±$223Highest
31% above U.S.
$850±$49Lowest
40% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,448
43% above U.S.
$8,814Highest
183% above U.S.
$4,036Lowest
29% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
43.9%±16.8Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
59%±11.3Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
48.2%±15.8
U.S.: 51.1%
Exeter 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
U.S.: 12.5%
4.7%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
23%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
50.7%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
69.1%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
57.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1938Lowest
42 yrs older than U.S.
1979Highest
1 yr older than U.S.
1966
14 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
20 min
24% below U.S.
25 minHighest
6% below U.S.
15 minLowest
45% below U.S.
Work from home
6.9%±5.3Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
19.9%±3.7Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
16.8%±8.3
U.S.: 15.1%
Exeter 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 — #22 of 120 in NH #63 of 70 in VT
School district — Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District Newport City School District · North Country Union High School District
High school in town — Exeter High School North Country Union High School
Students per teacherat that high school —
12.1Highest
10.7Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story None yet 59 photos → 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.