Compare towns
Barton vs Bellows Falls vs Brighton vs Ludlow
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Barton has the most affordable homes ($147k median).
Bellows Falls has the shortest commute (20 min average).
Ludlow has the most expensive homes ($304k median).
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 | Barton | Bellows Falls | Brighton | Ludlow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 730Lowest |
2,891Highest |
1,167 |
808 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.4% VT: +2.8% |
-12.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-5.3% VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 40±5.5Lowest 7% below VT |
41.3±6.7 4% below VT |
45.2±11.6 5% above VT |
48.7±5.6Highest 13% above VT |
| Ludlow and Brighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 24.1%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
22.6%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
18.3%±5.7 VT: 17.9% |
13.1%±3.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Barton and Bellows Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.2%±4.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
23.7%±5.7 VT: 21.4% |
27.2%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
30.4%±0.5Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Ludlow and Brighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
27.5% VT: 43.8% |
25.9% VT: 43.8% |
39.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
8.2%±4.3Highest VT: 7% |
4.6%±2.4 VT: 7% |
2.6%±1.6 VT: 7% |
| Bellows Falls and Brighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $40,833±$8kLowest 50% below VT |
$56,086±$2k 31% below VT |
$47,375±$21k 42% below VT |
$56,667±$19kHighest 30% below VT |
| Ludlow and Bellows Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $146,900±$30kLowest 54% below VT |
$195,600±$35k 38% below VT |
$163,900±$39k 48% below VT |
$304,000±$32kHighest 4% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $761±$150Lowest 38% below VT |
$1,038±$109Highest 16% below VT |
$775±$33 37% below VT |
$1,018±$91 18% below VT |
| Bellows Falls and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,185Lowest 37% below VT |
$4,448Highest 12% below VT |
$3,360 33% below VT |
$4,237 16% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58.8%±18.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
43.9%±16.8 VT: 48.4% |
55%±17 VT: 48.4% |
33%±13.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Barton and Brighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 25.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
25.1% VT: 10.1% |
22% VT: 10.1% |
8.7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
50.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
51.1% VT: 73.2% |
51.4% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1945 31 yrs older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1967Highest 9 yrs older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 32% above VT |
20 minLowest 14% below VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
21 min 10% below VT |
| Work from home | 16.5%±10.4 VT: 16.9% |
6.9%±5.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
12.4%±8.1 VT: 16.9% |
17.3%±6.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Ludlow and Barton 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 | #38 of 70 in VT | — | — | — |
| School district | — | — | Brighton School District | — |
| High school in town | — | — | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.