What stands out worked out from the figures below

Lyman has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.8%).

Bellows Falls has the most people working from home (6.9%).

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	Lyman	Bellows Falls
People
Population	464Lowest	2,891Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+9.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-12.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	60.8±6.5Highest 56% above U.S.	41.3±6.7Lowest 6% above U.S.
Kids under 18	12.3%±6.7Lowest U.S.: 22%	22.6%±6.4Highest U.S.: 22%
	Bellows Falls and Lyman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	38.6%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2%	23.7%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	27.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	27.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.5%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	8.2%±4.3Highest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$71,042±$17kHighest 12% below U.S.	$56,086±$2kLowest 31% below U.S.
	Lyman and Bellows Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$311,100±$66kHighest 6% below U.S.	$195,600±$35kLowest 41% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,147±$81Highest 19% below U.S.	$1,038±$109Lowest 27% below U.S.
	Lyman and Bellows Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,981Lowest 28% above U.S.	$4,448Highest 43% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	58.3%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1%	43.9%±16.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Lyman and Bellows Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	14.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	25.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	89.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	50.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S.	1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minHighest 9% below U.S.	20 minLowest 24% below U.S.
Work from home	3.7%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	6.9%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Bellows Falls and Lyman 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.