Compare towns

Newport vs Putney vs Bellows Falls

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Newport has the shortest commute (15 min average).
Putney has the most expensive homes ($300k 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.

MeasureNewportPutneyBellows Falls
People
Population
4,394Highest
2,622Lowest
2,891
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-2.9%Highest
VT: +2.8%
-3.1%
VT: +2.8%
-12.7%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
46.4±4.3Highest
8% above VT
37.2±5.2Lowest
14% below VT
41.3±6.7
4% below VT
Newport and Bellows Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
13.2%±3.9Lowest
VT: 17.9%
15.4%±4.1
VT: 17.9%
22.6%±6.4Highest
VT: 17.9%
Bellows Falls and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
25.8%±4.7Highest
VT: 21.4%
18.1%±3.8Lowest
VT: 21.4%
23.7%±5.7
VT: 21.4%
Newport 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+
25.1%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
48.6%Highest
VT: 43.8%
27.5%
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.8%±1.5Lowest
VT: 7%
20.4%±3.4Highest
VT: 7%
8.2%±4.3
VT: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$54,646±$12kLowest
33% below VT
$79,706±$18kHighest
about the VT average
$56,086±$2k
31% below VT
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$179,400±$11kLowest
43% below VT
$300,000±$44kHighest
5% below VT
$195,600±$35k
38% below VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$850±$49
31% below VT
$508±$482Lowest
59% below VT
$1,038±$109Highest
16% below VT
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,036Lowest
20% below VT
$5,313Highest
5% above VT
$4,448
12% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
48.2%±15.8
VT: 48.4%
54.2%±19.4Highest
VT: 48.4%
43.9%±16.8Lowest
VT: 48.4%
Putney and Newport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
23%
VT: 10.1%
16%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
25.1%Highest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
57.6%
VT: 73.2%
72.8%Highest
VT: 73.2%
50.7%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1966
10 yrs older than VT
1977Highest
1 yr newer than VT
1938Lowest
38 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
15 minLowest
38% below VT
18 min
24% below VT
20 minHighest
14% below VT
Work from home
16.8%±8.3
VT: 16.9%
16.9%±6.5Highest
VT: 16.9%
6.9%±5.3Lowest
VT: 16.9%
Putney 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 #63 of 70 in VT #32 of 70 in VT —
School district Newport City School District · North Country Union High School District Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 —
High school in town North Country Union High School None in town —
Students per teacherat that high school
10.7
— —
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story None yet 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.