Compare towns
Bellows Falls vs Exeter vs Plainfield vs Westminster
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 renters (49.3% rent).
Exeter has the most homeowners (97.7%).
Plainfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.8%).
Westminster has the most people working from home (27%).
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 | Exeter | Plainfield | Westminster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,891 |
913Lowest |
1,016 |
2,999Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -12.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
-14.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.3±6.7 6% above U.S. |
51.7±12.6 33% above U.S. |
34.5±6.6Lowest 11% below U.S. |
53.5±3.7Highest 38% above U.S. |
| Westminster and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.6%±6.4 U.S.: 22% |
22.7%±7.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.6%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Exeter 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.9%±10.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.5%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.6%±6.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Westminster 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
28.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
46.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.2%±4.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
14.9%±11.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±3.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Plainfield and Bellows Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $56,086±$2kLowest 31% below U.S. |
$77,550±$19kHighest 4% below U.S. |
$70,673±$6k 12% below U.S. |
$71,491±$4k 11% below U.S. |
| Exeter and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $195,600±$35k 41% below U.S. |
$243,000±$89k 27% below U.S. |
$155,100±$17kLowest 53% below U.S. |
$273,800±$35kHighest 18% below U.S. |
| Westminster and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,038±$109Highest 27% below U.S. |
$867±$44 39% below U.S. |
$750±$207Lowest 47% below U.S. |
$916±$126 35% below U.S. |
| 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 43% above U.S. |
$2,926 6% below U.S. |
$2,667Lowest 14% below U.S. |
$4,063 30% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.9%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
40.6%±43.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
49.2%±7.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Westminster and Bellows Falls 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% |
4.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 50.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
97.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
88.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 24% below U.S. |
29 min 9% above U.S. |
29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
24 min 10% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 6.9%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.4%±10.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.5%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
27%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Westminster and Exeter 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 | — | — | — | #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 | 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.