Compare towns

Bellows Falls vs Brighton vs Stratton

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 shortest commute (20 min average).
Brighton has the most people working from home (12.4%).
Stratton has the highest household income ($123k).

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.

MeasureBellows FallsBrightonStratton
People
Population
2,891Highest
1,167
532Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-12.7%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
-5.3%Highest
VT: +2.8%
—
Median age
41.3±6.7
4% below VT
45.2±11.6Highest
5% above VT
31.5±4.1Lowest
27% 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%±6.4
VT: 17.9%
18.3%±5.7Lowest
VT: 17.9%
28%±7.4Highest
VT: 17.9%
Stratton and Bellows Falls 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%
11.7%±4Lowest
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%
33.2%Highest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
8.2%±4.3Highest
VT: 7%
4.6%±2.4
VT: 7%
1.3%±2.8Lowest
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
$122,708±$33kHighest
51% above VT
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$195,600±$35k
38% below VT
$163,900±$39kLowest
48% below VT
$400,000±$50kHighest
26% above VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,038±$109
16% below VT
$775±$33Lowest
37% below VT
$1,208±$979Highest
about the VT average
Stratton and Bellows Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,448
12% below VT
$3,360Lowest
33% below VT
$4,750Highest
6% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
43.9%±16.8
VT: 48.4%
55%±17Highest
VT: 48.4%
12%±69.8Lowest
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%
0%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
50.7%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
51.1%
VT: 73.2%
73.3%Highest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1938Lowest
38 yrs older than VT
1967
9 yrs older than VT
1988Highest
12 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
20 minLowest
14% below VT
33 minHighest
41% above VT
33 min
39% above VT
Work from home
6.9%±5.3
VT: 16.9%
12.4%±8.1Highest
VT: 16.9%
3.3%±3.5Lowest
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
School district — Brighton School District —
High school 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.