Compare towns
Bellows Falls vs Wells vs Newport
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 kids (22.6% under 18).
Wells has grown the fastest since 2010 (+18%).
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 | Wells | Newport |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,891Lowest |
11,713Highest |
4,394 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -12.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+18%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.3±6.7Lowest 6% above U.S. |
53.6±3.8Highest 38% above U.S. |
46.4±4.3 19% above U.S. |
| Wells and Newport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.6%±6.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
18%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
13.2%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Bellows Falls and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 23.7%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
31%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.8%±4.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wells and Newport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 27.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
43.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
25.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.2%±4.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Bellows Falls and Wells 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 U.S. |
$88,024±$11kHighest 9% above U.S. |
$54,646±$12kLowest 32% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $195,600±$35k 41% below U.S. |
$485,300±$23kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$179,400±$11kLowest 46% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,038±$109 27% below U.S. |
$1,350±$297Highest 4% below U.S. |
$850±$49Lowest 40% below U.S. |
| Wells 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 43% above U.S. |
$3,215Lowest 3% above U.S. |
$4,036 29% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.9%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
42.1%±19.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.2%±15.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Newport 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% |
6.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
23% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 50.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
57.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1966 14 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 24% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 4% above U.S. |
15 minLowest 45% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 6.9%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.8%±4.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.8%±8.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Wells 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 | — | #22 of 133 in ME | #63 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | Wells-Ogunquit CSD | Newport City School District · North Country Union High School District |
| High school in town | — | Wells High School | North Country Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.4Highest |
10.7Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.