Compare towns
Bellows Falls vs Brighton vs Castleton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bellows Falls has the most kids (22.6% under 18).
Brighton has the most people working from home (12.4%).
Castleton has the most homeowners (79%).
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 | Bellows Falls | Brighton | Castleton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,891 |
1,167Lowest |
4,453Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -12.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-5.3%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-5.5% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 41.3±6.7 4% below VT |
45.2±11.6Highest 5% above VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
| Brighton and Bellows Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.6%±6.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.3%±5.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
| Bellows Falls and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 23.7%±5.7 VT: 21.4% |
27.2%±4.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Brighton 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+ | 27.5% VT: 43.8% |
25.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
37.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.2%±4.3 VT: 7% |
4.6%±2.4Lowest VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $56,086±$2k 31% below VT |
$47,375±$21kLowest 42% below VT |
$73,854±$23kHighest 9% below VT |
| Castleton and Bellows Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $195,600±$35k 38% below VT |
$163,900±$39kLowest 48% below VT |
$224,800±$71kHighest 29% below VT |
| Castleton and Bellows Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,038±$109 16% below VT |
$775±$33Lowest 37% below VT |
$1,137±$195Highest 8% below VT |
| Castleton and Bellows Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,448Highest 12% below VT |
$3,360 33% below VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.9%±16.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
55%±17 VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Brighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 25.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
22% VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 50.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
51.1% VT: 73.2% |
79%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1967 9 yrs older than VT |
1974Highest 2 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 14% below VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
| Work from home | 6.9%±5.3 VT: 16.9% |
12.4%±8.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Brighton and Bellows Falls 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 | — | — | #39 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | Brighton School District | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| 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.