Compare towns
Bellows Falls vs Franklin 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).
Franklin has the highest household income ($80k).
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.
| Measure | Bellows Falls | Franklin | Newport |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,891 |
1,590Lowest |
4,394Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -12.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-3% VT: +2.8% |
-2.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 41.3±6.7 4% below VT |
38.8±6.9Lowest 10% below VT |
46.4±4.3Highest 8% above VT |
| Newport and Bellows Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.6%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
23.5%±5.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
13.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Franklin 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% |
15.3%±1.4Lowest 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%Highest VT: 43.8% |
21.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
25.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.2%±4.3Highest VT: 7% |
7.5%±3.1 VT: 7% |
2.8%±1.5Lowest VT: 7% |
| Bellows Falls and Franklin 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 |
$79,917±$21kHighest about the VT average |
$54,646±$12kLowest 33% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $195,600±$35k 38% below VT |
$247,400±$66kHighest 22% below VT |
$179,400±$11kLowest 43% below VT |
| Franklin and Bellows Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,038±$109Highest 16% below VT |
$891±$266 28% below VT |
$850±$49Lowest 31% below VT |
| Bellows Falls and Franklin 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 |
$3,384Lowest 33% below VT |
$4,036 20% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.9%±16.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
45.5%±42.2 VT: 48.4% |
48.2%±15.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Newport and Franklin 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% |
8.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
23% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 50.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
74.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
57.6% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
1966 10 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 14% below VT |
25 minHighest 8% above VT |
15 minLowest 38% below VT |
| Work from home | 6.9%±5.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
18.1%±4.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.8%±8.3 VT: 16.9% |
| Franklin 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 | — | — | #63 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Newport City School District · North Country Union High School District |
| High school in town | — | None in town | North Country Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.7 |
| 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.