Compare towns
Bellows Falls vs Brighton vs Dummerston vs Putney
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 affordable homes ($164k median).
Dummerston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.1%).
Putney has the shortest commute (18 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.
| Measure | Bellows Falls | Brighton | Dummerston | Putney |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,891Highest |
1,167Lowest |
2,090 |
2,622 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -12.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-5.3% VT: +2.8% |
+0.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 41.3±6.7 4% below VT |
45.2±11.6 5% above VT |
45.6±11.7Highest 6% above VT |
37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
| Dummerston and Brighton 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%±5.7 VT: 17.9% |
21.7%±6 VT: 17.9% |
15.4%±4.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Bellows Falls and Dummerston 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% |
24.3%±3 VT: 21.4% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Brighton and Dummerston 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% |
58.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.2%±4.3 VT: 7% |
4.6%±2.4 VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $56,086±$2k 31% below VT |
$47,375±$21kLowest 42% below VT |
$101,696±$21kHighest 25% above VT |
$79,706±$18k about the VT average |
| Dummerston and Putney 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 |
$335,300±$22kHighest 6% above VT |
$300,000±$44k 5% below VT |
| Dummerston and Putney 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±$33 37% below VT |
$1,392±$126Highest 13% above VT |
$508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,448 12% below VT |
$3,360Lowest 33% below VT |
$4,536 10% below VT |
$5,313Highest 5% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.9%±16.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
55%±17Highest VT: 48.4% |
44.1%±32.2 VT: 48.4% |
54.2%±19.4 VT: 48.4% |
| Brighton and Putney 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% |
4.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
16% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 50.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
51.1% VT: 73.2% |
92.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
72.8% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1967 9 yrs older than VT |
1971 5 yrs older than VT |
1977Highest 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 14% below VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
21 min 11% below VT |
18 minLowest 24% below VT |
| Work from home | 6.9%±5.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
12.4%±8.1 VT: 16.9% |
25.9%±10.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±6.5 VT: 16.9% |
| Dummerston and Putney 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 | — | — | — | #32 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | Brighton School District | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → |
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.