What stands out worked out from the figures below

Bellows Falls has the most kids (22.6% under 18).

Gilman has the most affordable homes ($99k median).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Bellows Falls	Gilman
People
Population	2,891Highest	165Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-12.7% VT: +2.8%	—
Median age	41.3±6.7Lowest 4% below VT	56.2±6Highest 30% above VT
Kids under 18	22.6%±6.4Highest VT: 17.9%	0%±17.1Lowest VT: 17.9%
	Bellows Falls and Gilman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	23.7%±5.7Lowest VT: 21.4%	29.1%±16.8Highest VT: 21.4%
	Gilman 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%	22.9%Lowest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	8.2%±4.3Highest VT: 7%	4.2%±7.8Lowest VT: 7%
	Bellows Falls and Gilman 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	$57,788±$32kHighest 29% below VT
	Gilman and Bellows Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$195,600±$35kHighest 38% below VT	$98,500±$46kLowest 69% below VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,038±$109Lowest 16% below VT	$1,279±$700Highest 4% above VT
	Gilman 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	$2,806Lowest 44% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	43.9%±16.8Lowest VT: 48.4%	73.9%±69.1Highest VT: 48.4%
	Gilman 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 VT: 10.1%	0%Lowest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	50.7%Lowest VT: 73.2%	61%Highest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1938 38 yrs older than VT	1938 38 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	20 min 14% below VT	—
Work from home	6.9%±5.3Highest VT: 16.9%	0%±13.5Lowest VT: 16.9%
	Bellows Falls and Gilman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.