What stands out worked out from the figures below

Bethel has grown the fastest since 2010 (-4.3%).

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

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	Bethel	Bellows Falls
People
Population	1,736Lowest	2,891Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-4.3%Highest VT: +2.8%	-12.7%Lowest VT: +2.8%
Median age	50.7±3.7Highest 18% above VT	41.3±6.7Lowest 4% below VT
	Bethel and Bellows Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	11.4%±3.1Lowest VT: 17.9%	22.6%±6.4Highest VT: 17.9%
Age 65+	25.5%±3.7Highest VT: 21.4%	23.7%±5.7Lowest VT: 21.4%
	Bethel 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+	35.7%Highest VT: 43.8%	27.5%Lowest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.3%±1.6Lowest VT: 7%	8.2%±4.3Highest VT: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$75,822±$7kHighest 7% below VT	$56,086±$2kLowest 31% below VT
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$238,000±$41kHighest 25% below VT	$195,600±$35kLowest 38% below VT
	Bethel and Bellows Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,335±$220Highest 8% above VT	$1,038±$109Lowest 16% below VT
	Bethel and Bellows Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,168Highest about the VT average	$4,448Lowest 12% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	54%±22Highest VT: 48.4%	43.9%±16.8Lowest VT: 48.4%
	Bethel and Bellows Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.2%Lowest VT: 10.1%	25.1%Highest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	83.6%Highest VT: 73.2%	50.7%Lowest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1966Highest 10 yrs older than VT	1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minHighest 19% above VT	20 minLowest 14% below VT
Work from home	7.1%±3.1Highest VT: 16.9%	6.9%±5.3Lowest VT: 16.9%
	Bethel and Bellows Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	White River Unified School District #79	—
High school in town	None in town	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.