Compare towns
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
Bellows Falls has the most kids (22.6% under 18).
Brighton has the most affordable homes ($164k median).
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 | Bellows Falls | Brighton | Ludlow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,891Highest |
1,167 |
808Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -12.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-5.3% VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 41.3±6.7Lowest 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 | 22.6%±6.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.3%±5.7 VT: 17.9% |
13.1%±3.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Bellows Falls and Brighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 23.7%±5.7Lowest 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+ | 27.5% VT: 43.8% |
25.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
39.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.2%±4.3Highest VT: 7% |
4.6%±2.4 VT: 7% |
2.6%±1.6Lowest 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 | $56,086±$2k 31% below VT |
$47,375±$21kLowest 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 | $195,600±$35k 38% below VT |
$163,900±$39kLowest 48% below VT |
$304,000±$32kHighest 4% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,038±$109Highest 16% below VT |
$775±$33Lowest 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 | $4,448Highest 12% below VT |
$3,360Lowest 33% below VT |
$4,237 16% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.9%±16.8 VT: 48.4% |
55%±17Highest VT: 48.4% |
33%±13.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Brighton and Bellows Falls 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% |
8.7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 50.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
51.1% VT: 73.2% |
51.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1967Highest 9 yrs older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 14% below VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
21 min 10% below VT |
| Work from home | 6.9%±5.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
12.4%±8.1 VT: 16.9% |
17.3%±6.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Ludlow and Brighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| 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 |
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.