Compare towns
Bellows Falls vs Newport vs Brighton vs Rockingham
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 most kids (22.6% under 18).
Newport has grown the fastest since 2010 (-2.9%).
Brighton has the most affordable homes ($164k median).
Rockingham has the highest household income ($71k).
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.
| Measure | Bellows Falls | Newport | Brighton | Rockingham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,891 |
4,394 |
1,167Lowest |
4,807Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -12.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-2.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-5.3% VT: +2.8% |
-8.5% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 41.3±6.7Lowest 4% below VT |
46.4±4.3Highest 8% above VT |
45.2±11.6 5% above VT |
46.4±2.6Highest 8% above VT |
| Kids under 18 | 22.6%±6.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
13.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.3%±5.7 VT: 17.9% |
19.2%±4.3 VT: 17.9% |
| Bellows Falls and Rockingham 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% |
25.8%±4.7 VT: 21.4% |
27.2%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
29.8%±5Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Rockingham 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% |
25.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
25.9% VT: 43.8% |
37.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.2%±4.3Highest VT: 7% |
2.8%±1.5Lowest VT: 7% |
4.6%±2.4 VT: 7% |
6.1%±2.9 VT: 7% |
| Bellows Falls and Rockingham 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 |
$54,646±$12k 33% below VT |
$47,375±$21kLowest 42% below VT |
$70,857±$16kHighest 13% below VT |
| Rockingham and Bellows Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $195,600±$35k 38% below VT |
$179,400±$11k 43% below VT |
$163,900±$39kLowest 48% below VT |
$210,900±$14kHighest 33% below VT |
| Rockingham and Bellows Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,038±$109 16% below VT |
$850±$49 31% below VT |
$775±$33Lowest 37% below VT |
$1,062±$101Highest 14% below VT |
| Rockingham 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 |
$4,036 20% below VT |
$3,360Lowest 33% below VT |
$4,887Highest 3% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.9%±16.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
48.2%±15.8 VT: 48.4% |
55%±17Highest VT: 48.4% |
46.7%±13.7 VT: 48.4% |
| Brighton and Newport 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% |
23% VT: 10.1% |
22% VT: 10.1% |
16.7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 50.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
57.6% VT: 73.2% |
51.1% VT: 73.2% |
61.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1966 10 yrs older than VT |
1967Highest 9 yrs older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 14% below VT |
15 minLowest 38% below VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
20 min 16% below VT |
| Work from home | 6.9%±5.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
16.8%±8.3 VT: 16.9% |
12.4%±8.1 VT: 16.9% |
17.9%±7.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Rockingham and Newport 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 | — | #63 of 70 in VT | — | #65 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | Newport City School District · North Country Union High School District | Brighton School District | Rockingham School District |
| High school in town | — | North Country Union High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.7 |
— | — |
| 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.