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 grown the fastest since 2010 (-2.9%).
Westminster has the most people working from home (27%).
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 | Westminster | Bellows Falls |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,394Highest |
2,999 |
2,891Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-5.1% VT: +2.8% |
-12.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 46.4±4.3 8% above VT |
53.5±3.7Highest 24% above VT |
41.3±6.7Lowest 4% below VT |
| Westminster 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% |
18.2%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
22.6%±6.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Bellows Falls and Westminster 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% |
27.6%±6.8Highest VT: 21.4% |
23.7%±5.7Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Westminster 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%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
46.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
27.5% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.5Lowest VT: 7% |
4.4%±3.1 VT: 7% |
8.2%±4.3Highest VT: 7% |
| Bellows Falls and Westminster 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 |
$71,491±$4kHighest 12% below VT |
$56,086±$2k 31% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $179,400±$11kLowest 43% below VT |
$273,800±$35kHighest 14% below VT |
$195,600±$35k 38% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $850±$49Lowest 31% below VT |
$916±$126 26% below VT |
$1,038±$109Highest 16% below VT |
| Bellows Falls and Westminster 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 |
$4,063 19% below VT |
$4,448Highest 12% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.2%±15.8 VT: 48.4% |
49.2%±7.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
43.9%±16.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Westminster 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% |
8.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
25.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 57.6% VT: 73.2% |
88.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
50.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966 10 yrs older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 15 minLowest 38% below VT |
24 minHighest about the VT average |
20 min 14% below VT |
| Work from home | 16.8%±8.3 VT: 16.9% |
27%±6.6Highest 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 | Bellows Falls Union High School District #27 · Westminster School District | — |
| High school in town | North Country Union High School | Bellows Falls Union High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7Highest |
10.6Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.