Compare towns
Bellows Falls vs Franklin vs Westminster
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (-3%).
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 | Franklin | Westminster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,891 |
1,590Lowest |
2,999Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -12.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-3%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-5.1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 41.3±6.7 4% below VT |
38.8±6.9Lowest 10% below VT |
53.5±3.7Highest 24% above VT |
| Kids under 18 | 22.6%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
23.5%±5.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.2%±4.7Lowest 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% |
27.6%±6.8Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Westminster 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% |
21.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
46.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.2%±4.3Highest VT: 7% |
7.5%±3.1 VT: 7% |
4.4%±3.1Lowest 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±$2kLowest 31% below VT |
$79,917±$21kHighest about the VT average |
$71,491±$4k 12% below VT |
| Franklin 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±$35kLowest 38% below VT |
$247,400±$66k 22% below VT |
$273,800±$35kHighest 14% below VT |
| Westminster and Franklin 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±$266Lowest 28% below VT |
$916±$126 26% below VT |
| 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 12% below VT |
$3,384Lowest 33% below VT |
$4,063 19% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.9%±16.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
45.5%±42.2 VT: 48.4% |
49.2%±7.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Westminster 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% |
8.8% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 50.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
74.7% VT: 73.2% |
88.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 14% below VT |
25 minHighest 8% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 6.9%±5.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
18.1%±4.7 VT: 16.9% |
27%±6.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Westminster and Franklin 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 | — | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Bellows Falls Union High School District #27 · Westminster School District |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Bellows Falls Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.6 |
| 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.