Compare towns

Bellows Falls vs Newfields vs Brighton

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).
Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).
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 FallsNewfieldsBrighton
People
Population
2,891Highest
2,023
1,167Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-12.7%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+5.3%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-5.3%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
41.3±6.7Lowest
6% above U.S.
44.1±1.8
13% above U.S.
45.2±11.6Highest
16% above U.S.
Brighton and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
22.6%±6.4Highest
U.S.: 22%
18.9%±1.6
U.S.: 22%
18.3%±5.7Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Bellows Falls and Newfields 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%
13.6%±0.9Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
27.2%±4.6Highest
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%
68.1%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
25.9%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
8.2%±4.3Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
7.5%±7.2
U.S.: 6.4%
4.6%±2.4Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Bellows Falls and Newfields 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.
$197,885±$15kHighest
145% above U.S.
$47,375±$21kLowest
41% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$195,600±$35k
41% below U.S.
$646,400±$34kHighest
94% above U.S.
$163,900±$39kLowest
51% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,038±$109
27% below U.S.
$1,875±$323Highest
33% above U.S.
$775±$33Lowest
45% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,448
43% above U.S.
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% above U.S.
$3,360Lowest
8% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
43.9%±16.8
U.S.: 51.1%
43.3%±40.8Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
55%±17Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
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
U.S.: 12.5%
2.4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
22%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
50.7%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
95.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
51.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1938Lowest
42 yrs older than U.S.
1991Highest
11 yrs newer than U.S.
1967
13 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
20 minLowest
24% below U.S.
26 min
about the U.S. average
33 minHighest
25% above U.S.
Work from home
6.9%±5.3Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
25.5%±3.7Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
12.4%±8.1
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
School district — Newfields School District 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

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.