What stands out worked out from the figures below

Ryegate has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.8%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Ryegate	Bellows Falls
People
Population	1,059Lowest	2,891Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-0.8%Highest VT: +2.8%	-12.7%Lowest VT: +2.8%
Median age	41.2±2.6Lowest 4% below VT	41.3±6.7Highest 4% below VT
	Bellows Falls and Ryegate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	23.2%±4.6Highest VT: 17.9%	22.6%±6.4Lowest VT: 17.9%
	Ryegate and Bellows Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	22.1%±1.5Lowest VT: 21.4%	23.7%±5.7Highest VT: 21.4%
	Bellows Falls and Ryegate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	29.1%Highest VT: 43.8%	27.5%Lowest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.4%±1.4Lowest VT: 7%	8.2%±4.3Highest VT: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$66,484±$15kHighest 18% below VT	$56,086±$2kLowest 31% below VT
	Ryegate and Bellows Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$219,300±$32kHighest 31% below VT	$195,600±$35kLowest 38% below VT
	Ryegate and Bellows Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$908±$236Lowest 26% below VT	$1,038±$109Highest 16% below VT
	Bellows Falls and Ryegate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,472Lowest 31% below VT	$4,448Highest 12% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	55.9%±29.7Highest VT: 48.4%	43.9%±16.8Lowest VT: 48.4%
	Ryegate and Bellows Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	14.5%Lowest VT: 10.1%	25.1%Highest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	84.7%Highest VT: 73.2%	50.7%Lowest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1949Highest 27 yrs older than VT	1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minHighest 18% above VT	20 minLowest 14% below VT
Work from home	8.2%±3.7Highest VT: 16.9%	6.9%±5.3Lowest VT: 16.9%
	Ryegate and Bellows Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.