Compare towns

Bellows Falls vs Dummerston vs Windsor vs Brighton

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 youngest population (median age 41.3).
Dummerston has the most people working from home (25.9%).
Windsor has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.2%).
Brighton has the most affordable homes ($164k 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 FallsDummerstonWindsorBrighton
People
Population
2,891
2,090
3,554Highest
1,167Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-12.7%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
+0.1%
VT: +2.8%
+0.2%Highest
VT: +2.8%
-5.3%
VT: +2.8%
Median age
41.3±6.7Lowest
4% below VT
45.6±11.7Highest
6% above VT
44.8±6.5
4% above VT
45.2±11.6
5% above 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%
21.7%±6
VT: 17.9%
19.5%±5.2
VT: 17.9%
18.3%±5.7Lowest
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%±5.7Lowest
VT: 21.4%
24.3%±3
VT: 21.4%
29.7%±6.9Highest
VT: 21.4%
27.2%±4.6
VT: 21.4%
Windsor 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%
58.7%Highest
VT: 43.8%
39.7%
VT: 43.8%
25.9%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
8.2%±4.3Highest
VT: 7%
1.3%±1.1
VT: 7%
0.7%±0.8Lowest
VT: 7%
4.6%±2.4
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
$101,696±$21kHighest
25% above VT
$52,484±$11k
35% below VT
$47,375±$21kLowest
42% below VT
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$195,600±$35k
38% below VT
$335,300±$22kHighest
6% above VT
$207,500±$31k
34% below VT
$163,900±$39kLowest
48% below VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,038±$109
16% below VT
$1,392±$126Highest
13% above VT
$1,026±$89
17% below VT
$775±$33Lowest
37% below VT
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,448
12% below VT
$4,536
10% below VT
$5,209Highest
3% above VT
$3,360Lowest
33% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
43.9%±16.8
VT: 48.4%
44.1%±32.2
VT: 48.4%
31.5%±17Lowest
VT: 48.4%
55%±17Highest
VT: 48.4%
Brighton and Dummerston 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%
4.5%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
7.8%
VT: 10.1%
22%
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
50.7%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
92.9%Highest
VT: 73.2%
57.8%
VT: 73.2%
51.1%
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1938Lowest
38 yrs older than VT
1971Highest
5 yrs older than VT
1945
31 yrs older than VT
1967
9 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
20 minLowest
14% below VT
21 min
11% below VT
23 min
3% below VT
33 minHighest
41% above VT
Work from home
6.9%±5.3Lowest
VT: 16.9%
25.9%±10.3Highest
VT: 16.9%
10.3%±5
VT: 16.9%
12.4%±8.1
VT: 16.9%
Dummerston 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 — — #61 of 70 in VT —
School district — Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 — Brighton School District
High school in town — None in town — None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story None yet 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.