Compare towns
Newport vs Reading vs Springfield 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).
Reading has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.2%).
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.
| Measure | Newport | Reading | Springfield | Bellows Falls |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,394 |
699Lowest |
9,084Highest |
2,891 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.9% VT: +2.8% |
+3.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.3% VT: +2.8% |
-12.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 46.4±4.3 8% above VT |
51.1±7.6Highest 19% above VT |
43.2±3.7 about the VT average |
41.3±6.7Lowest 4% below VT |
| Reading and Newport 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% |
18.5%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
18.6%±3.4 VT: 17.9% |
22.6%±6.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Bellows Falls and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 25.8%±4.7 VT: 21.4% |
28.2%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
23.6%±3.7Lowest VT: 21.4% |
23.7%±5.7 VT: 21.4% |
| Reading and Newport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 25.1% VT: 43.8% |
46%Highest VT: 43.8% |
23.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
27.5% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.5 VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5 VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.4Lowest VT: 7% |
8.2%±4.3Highest VT: 7% |
| Bellows Falls and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $54,646±$12kLowest 33% below VT |
$85,000±$19kHighest 5% above VT |
$66,571±$13k 18% below VT |
$56,086±$2k 31% below VT |
| Reading and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $179,400±$11kLowest 43% below VT |
$377,200±$72kHighest 19% above VT |
$192,400±$20k 39% below VT |
$195,600±$35k 38% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $850±$49Lowest 31% below VT |
$1,100±$331Highest 11% below VT |
$963±$100 22% below VT |
$1,038±$109 16% below VT |
| Reading and Bellows Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,036Lowest 20% below VT |
$5,754Highest 14% above VT |
$4,807 5% below VT |
$4,448 12% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.2%±15.8 VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
49.6%±15.6 VT: 48.4% |
43.9%±16.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Reading and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 23% VT: 10.1% |
8.4%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
14.8% VT: 10.1% |
25.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 57.6% VT: 73.2% |
84.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
67.7% VT: 73.2% |
50.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966 10 yrs older than VT |
1969Highest 7 yrs older than VT |
1958 18 yrs older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 15 minLowest 38% below VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
27 min 16% above VT |
20 min 14% below VT |
| Work from home | 16.8%±8.3 VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
15.1%±5.5 VT: 16.9% |
6.9%±5.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Reading 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 | — | #64 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Newport City School District · North Country Union High School District | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | River Valley Technical Center · Springfield School District | — |
| High school in town | North Country Union High School | None in town | Springfield High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7Lowest |
— | 14.3Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.