What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

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	Gilman	Bellows Falls
People
Population	165Lowest	2,891Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	-12.7% VT: +2.8%
Median age	56.2±6Highest 30% above VT	41.3±6.7Lowest 4% below VT
Kids under 18	0%±17.1Lowest VT: 17.9%	22.6%±6.4Highest 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+	29.1%±16.8Highest VT: 21.4%	23.7%±5.7Lowest 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+	22.9%Lowest VT: 43.8%	27.5%Highest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.2%±7.8Lowest VT: 7%	8.2%±4.3Highest 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	$57,788±$32kHighest 29% below VT	$56,086±$2kLowest 31% 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	$98,500±$46kLowest 69% below VT	$195,600±$35kHighest 38% below VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,279±$700Highest 4% above VT	$1,038±$109Lowest 16% below 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	$2,806Lowest 44% below VT	$4,448Highest 12% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	73.9%±69.1Highest VT: 48.4%	43.9%±16.8Lowest 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	0%Lowest VT: 10.1%	25.1%Highest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	61%Highest VT: 73.2%	50.7%Lowest 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	0%±13.5Lowest VT: 16.9%	6.9%±5.3Highest 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.