Compare towns

Bellows Falls vs Brighton vs Windham

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 affordable homes ($164k median).
Windham has the most expensive homes ($354k 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.

MeasureBellows FallsBrightonWindham
People
Population
2,891Highest
1,167
594Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-12.7%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
-5.3%Highest
VT: +2.8%
—
Median age
41.3±6.7Lowest
4% below VT
45.2±11.6Highest
5% above VT
44.2±7.4
about the VT average
Brighton and Windham 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%
17.5%±7.9Lowest
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%±5.7
VT: 21.4%
27.2%±4.6Highest
VT: 21.4%
23.2%±8.1Lowest
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%
48.1%Highest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
8.2%±4.3Highest
VT: 7%
4.6%±2.4
VT: 7%
0.8%±1.1Lowest
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
$94,500±$12kHighest
16% above VT
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$195,600±$35k
38% below VT
$163,900±$39kLowest
48% below VT
$353,900±$20kHighest
12% above VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,038±$109Highest
16% below VT
$775±$33Lowest
37% below VT
—
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,448
12% below VT
$3,360Lowest
33% below VT
$5,951Highest
18% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
43.9%±16.8
VT: 48.4%
55%±17Highest
VT: 48.4%
41.2%±94Lowest
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%
9.9%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
50.7%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
51.1%
VT: 73.2%
82.9%Highest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1938Lowest
38 yrs older than VT
1967
9 yrs older than VT
1982Highest
6 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
20 minLowest
14% below VT
33 minHighest
41% above VT
27 min
14% above VT
Work from home
6.9%±5.3Lowest
VT: 16.9%
12.4%±8.1
VT: 16.9%
20.5%±5.6Highest
VT: 16.9%
Windham 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 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.