Compare towns

Windsor vs Thornton 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

Windsor has the most affordable homes ($170k median).
Thornton has the most people working from home (29.8%).
Bellows Falls has the shortest commute (20 min average).

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.

MeasureWindsorThorntonBellows Falls
People
Population
2,060Lowest
2,799
2,891Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+3.5%
U.S.: +7.4%
+8.8%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-12.7%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
44.6±12.3
15% above U.S.
51.1±3.4Highest
31% above U.S.
41.3±6.7Lowest
6% above U.S.
Thornton and Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
21.1%±8.8
U.S.: 22%
13.9%±4.6Lowest
U.S.: 22%
22.6%±6.4Highest
U.S.: 22%
Bellows Falls and Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
29.2%±8Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
19%±4.9Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
23.7%±5.7
U.S.: 17.2%
Windsor 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+
40%
U.S.: 35.7%
46.3%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
27.5%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
1.2%±1.4Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.8%±2.9
U.S.: 6.4%
8.2%±4.3Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Bellows Falls and Thornton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$51,197±$4kLowest
37% below U.S.
$90,022±$17kHighest
12% above U.S.
$56,086±$2k
31% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$170,300±$22kLowest
49% below U.S.
$351,900±$20kHighest
6% above U.S.
$195,600±$35k
41% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,002±$107Lowest
29% below U.S.
$1,270±$428Highest
10% below U.S.
$1,038±$109
27% below U.S.
Thornton and Bellows Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,878
56% above U.S.
$5,032Highest
61% above U.S.
$4,448Lowest
43% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
31.4%±20Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
57.7%±24.7Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
43.9%±16.8
U.S.: 51.1%
Thornton and Bellows Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
7.8%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
9.2%
U.S.: 12.5%
25.1%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
51.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
88.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
50.7%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1938Lowest
42 yrs older than U.S.
1984Highest
4 yrs newer than U.S.
1938Lowest
42 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
22 min
16% below U.S.
23 minHighest
14% below U.S.
20 minLowest
24% below U.S.
Work from home
6.6%±4.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
29.8%±9.7Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
6.9%±5.3
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #61 of 70 in VT #18 of 120 in NH —
School district — Thornton School District —
High school in town — None in town —
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.