Compare towns
Newport vs Westminster 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).
Westminster has the most expensive homes ($314k median).
Bellows Falls has the most renters (49.3% rent).
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 | Westminster | Bellows Falls |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,394Highest |
497Lowest |
2,891 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— | -12.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 46.4±4.3Highest 8% above VT |
43.3±11.5 about the VT average |
41.3±6.7Lowest 4% below VT |
| Newport and Westminster 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% |
28.4%±7.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
22.6%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
| Westminster and Bellows Falls 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% |
19.7%±11.4Lowest 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% |
45.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
27.5% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.5 VT: 7% |
2.2%±3.5Lowest VT: 7% |
8.2%±4.3Highest VT: 7% |
| Bellows Falls and Newport 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 |
$81,000±$22kHighest about the VT average |
$56,086±$2k 31% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $179,400±$11kLowest 43% below VT |
$313,600±$39kHighest about the VT average |
$195,600±$35k 38% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $850±$49 31% below VT |
$749±$315Lowest 39% below VT |
$1,038±$109Highest 16% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,036Lowest 20% below VT |
$4,480Highest 11% below VT |
$4,448 12% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.2%±15.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
6.1%±43.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
43.9%±16.8 VT: 48.4% |
| Newport and Bellows Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 23% VT: 10.1% |
2.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
25.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 57.6% VT: 73.2% |
80.1%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 |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 15 minLowest 38% below VT |
30 minHighest 26% above VT |
20 min 14% below VT |
| Work from home | 16.8%±8.3 VT: 16.9% |
23.1%±15.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.9%±5.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Westminster 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 | #53 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Newport City School District · North Country Union High School District | — | — |
| High school in town | North Country Union High School | — | — |
| 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.