Compare towns
Northfield vs Westminster vs Bellows Falls
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Northfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.9%).
Westminster has the most people working from home (27%).
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 | Northfield | Westminster | Bellows Falls |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,971Highest |
2,999 |
2,891Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-12.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.6±5.1 10% above U.S. |
53.5±3.7Highest 38% above U.S. |
41.3±6.7Lowest 6% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 20.3%±4.9 U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.6%±6.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Bellows Falls and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.2%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.6%±6.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.7%±5.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Westminster 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+ | 23.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
27.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.2%±4.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Bellows Falls and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $92,917±$15kHighest 15% above U.S. |
$71,491±$4k 11% below U.S. |
$56,086±$2kLowest 31% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $288,500±$33kHighest 13% below U.S. |
$273,800±$35k 18% below U.S. |
$195,600±$35kLowest 41% below U.S. |
| Northfield and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,076±$182Highest 24% below U.S. |
$916±$126Lowest 35% below U.S. |
$1,038±$109 27% below U.S. |
| Northfield and Bellows Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,097Highest 63% above U.S. |
$4,063Lowest 30% above U.S. |
$4,448 43% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 24.1%±14.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
49.2%±7.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.9%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Westminster and Bellows Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
25.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
88.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
50.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minHighest 3% below U.S. |
24 min 10% below U.S. |
20 minLowest 24% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 6.9%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
27%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.9%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #109 of 120 in NH | #53 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Winnisquam Regional School District | Bellows Falls Union High School District #27 · Westminster School District | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Bellows Falls Union High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.6 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.