Compare towns
Bellows Falls vs Windsor vs Barnard 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 shortest commute (20 min average).
Barnard has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.8%).
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.
| Measure | Bellows Falls | Windsor | Barnard | Brighton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,891 |
3,554Highest |
1,211 |
1,167Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -12.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+0.2% VT: +2.8% |
+4.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-5.3% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 41.3±6.7Lowest 4% below VT |
44.8±6.5 4% above VT |
42.4±6 about the VT average |
45.2±11.6Highest 5% above VT |
| Brighton and Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.6%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
19.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
26.9%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.3%±5.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Barnard and Bellows Falls 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% |
29.7%±6.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
22%±3.6Lowest 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% |
39.7% VT: 43.8% |
55.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
25.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.2%±4.3Highest VT: 7% |
0.7%±0.8Lowest VT: 7% |
2.4%±1.8 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 |
$52,484±$11k 35% below VT |
$97,581±$19kHighest 20% above VT |
$47,375±$21kLowest 42% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $195,600±$35k 38% below VT |
$207,500±$31k 34% below VT |
$402,600±$71kHighest 27% above VT |
$163,900±$39kLowest 48% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,038±$109 16% below VT |
$1,026±$89 17% below VT |
$1,372±$80Highest 11% above VT |
$775±$33Lowest 37% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,448 12% below VT |
$5,209 3% above VT |
$6,038Highest 20% above VT |
$3,360Lowest 33% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.9%±16.8 VT: 48.4% |
31.5%±17 VT: 48.4% |
27%±19.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
55%±17Highest 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% |
7.8% VT: 10.1% |
2.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
22% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 50.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
57.8% VT: 73.2% |
85.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
51.1% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1945 31 yrs older than VT |
1971Highest 5 yrs older than VT |
1967 9 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 14% below VT |
23 min 3% below VT |
29 min 21% above VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
| Work from home | 6.9%±5.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
10.3%±5 VT: 16.9% |
19.3%±10.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.4%±8.1 VT: 16.9% |
| Barnard 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 | — | — | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Brighton School District |
| High school in town | — | — | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 12 photos → | 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.