Compare towns

Bellows Falls vs Walpole 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).
Walpole has the most expensive homes ($320k median).
Brighton has the most people working from home (12.4%).

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 FallsWalpoleBrighton
People
Population
2,891
3,690Highest
1,167Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-12.7%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
-2.7%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-5.3%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
41.3±6.7Lowest
6% above U.S.
46.5±10.4Highest
20% above U.S.
45.2±11.6
16% above U.S.
Walpole 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
U.S.: 22%
22.2%±5.2
U.S.: 22%
18.3%±5.7Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Bellows Falls and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
23.7%±5.7Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
25.5%±5.4
U.S.: 17.2%
27.2%±4.6Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Brighton and Walpole 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%
32.9%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%
4%±2.8Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.6%±2.4
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.
$82,617±$16kHighest
about the U.S. average
$47,375±$21kLowest
41% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$195,600±$35k
41% below U.S.
$319,800±$48kHighest
4% below U.S.
$163,900±$39kLowest
51% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,038±$109
27% below U.S.
$1,165±$150Highest
18% below U.S.
$775±$33Lowest
45% below U.S.
Walpole 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
43% above U.S.
$6,078Highest
95% above U.S.
$3,360Lowest
8% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
43.9%±16.8Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
51.6%±21.9
U.S.: 51.1%
55%±17Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Brighton and Walpole 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%
11.7%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
22%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
50.7%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
69.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
51.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1938Lowest
42 yrs older than U.S.
1967Highest
13 yrs older than U.S.
1967Highest
13 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
20 minLowest
24% below U.S.
23 min
13% below U.S.
33 minHighest
25% above U.S.
Work from home
6.9%±5.3Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
7.2%±4.9
U.S.: 15.1%
12.4%±8.1Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Brighton and Walpole 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 — #27 of 120 in NH —
School district — Fall Mountain Regional 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.