What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Jefferson has the most people working from home (17.5%).

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	Jefferson
People
Population	2,891Highest	1,013Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-12.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	-5.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	41.3±6.7Lowest 6% above U.S.	58±3.5Highest 49% above U.S.
Kids under 18	22.6%±6.4Highest U.S.: 22%	12.5%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	23.7%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	33.7%±9.1Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Jefferson 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	28.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	8.2%±4.3Highest U.S.: 6.4%	2.2%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$56,086±$2kLowest 31% below U.S.	$67,188±$13kHighest 17% below U.S.
	Jefferson 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±$35kLowest 41% below U.S.	$296,700±$92kHighest 11% below U.S.
	Jefferson 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 27% below U.S.	$867±$156Lowest 39% below U.S.
	Bellows Falls and Jefferson 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.	$4,196Lowest 35% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	43.9%±16.8Highest U.S.: 51.1%	16.7%±71.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Bellows Falls and Jefferson 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%	8.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	50.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	90.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S.	1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	20 minLowest 24% below U.S.	35 minHighest 31% above U.S.
Work from home	6.9%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	17.5%±6.3Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Jefferson and Bellows Falls 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

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.