Compare towns

Bellows Falls vs Brighton vs Windham

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Bellows Falls has the shortest commute (20 min average).
Brighton has the most affordable homes ($164k median).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).

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 FallsBrightonWindham
People
Population
2,891
1,167Lowest
16,038Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-12.7%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
-5.3%
U.S.: +7.4%
+16.4%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
41.3±6.7
6% above U.S.
45.2±11.6Highest
16% above U.S.
41.1±2.9Lowest
6% above U.S.
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
U.S.: 22%
18.3%±5.7Lowest
U.S.: 22%
27.4%±3.3Highest
U.S.: 22%
Windham 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
U.S.: 17.2%
27.2%±4.6Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
15.5%±2.6Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
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%
U.S.: 35.7%
25.9%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
62.7%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
8.2%±4.3Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.6%±2.4
U.S.: 6.4%
3.8%±1.8Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
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 U.S.
$47,375±$21kLowest
41% below U.S.
$189,583±$19kHighest
135% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$195,600±$35k
41% below U.S.
$163,900±$39kLowest
51% below U.S.
$723,300±$50kHighest
117% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,038±$109
27% below U.S.
$775±$33Lowest
45% below U.S.
$3,218±$350Highest
128% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,448
43% above U.S.
$3,360Lowest
8% above U.S.
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
43.9%±16.8Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
55%±17Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
52.2%±50.9
U.S.: 51.1%
Brighton and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
25.1%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
22%
U.S.: 12.5%
2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
50.7%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
51.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
93.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1938Lowest
42 yrs older than U.S.
1967
13 yrs older than U.S.
1996Highest
16 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
20 minLowest
24% below U.S.
33 minHighest
25% above U.S.
31 min
17% above U.S.
Work from home
6.9%±5.3Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
12.4%±8.1
U.S.: 15.1%
21.9%±4.4Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Windham and Brighton 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 — — #13 of 120 in NH
School district — Brighton School District Windham School District
High school in town — None in town Windham High School
Students per teacherat that high school — —
12.8
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet None yet None yet

U.S. 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.