Compare towns
Brighton vs Amsterdam vs Bellows Falls
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Brighton has the most people working from home (12.4%).
Amsterdam has grown the fastest since 2010 (-2.2%).
Bellows Falls has the most expensive homes ($196k 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 | Brighton | Amsterdam | Bellows Falls |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,167Lowest |
18,166Highest |
2,891 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-12.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.2±11.6Highest 16% above U.S. |
39.5±1.2Lowest about the U.S. average |
41.3±6.7 6% above U.S. |
| Brighton and Bellows Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.3%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23%±2.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
22.6%±6.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Amsterdam and Bellows Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27.2%±4.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.7%±5.7 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+ | 25.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
22.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
27.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.2%±4.3Highest 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 | $47,375±$21kLowest 41% below U.S. |
$56,178±$8kHighest 30% below U.S. |
$56,086±$2k 31% below U.S. |
| Amsterdam and Bellows Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $163,900±$39k 51% below U.S. |
$137,900±$11kLowest 59% below U.S. |
$195,600±$35kHighest 41% below U.S. |
| Bellows Falls and Brighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $775±$33Lowest 45% below U.S. |
$1,006±$45 29% below U.S. |
$1,038±$109Highest 27% below U.S. |
| Bellows Falls and Amsterdam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,360Lowest 8% above U.S. |
$4,369 40% above U.S. |
$4,448Highest 43% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55%±17Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.4%±6.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
43.9%±16.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Brighton and Amsterdam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 22% U.S.: 12.5% |
20.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
25.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 51.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
53%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
50.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Highest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
21 min 22% below U.S. |
20 minLowest 24% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.4%±8.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±3.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.9%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Brighton and Amsterdam 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 | — | #474 of 484 in NY | — |
| School district | Brighton School District | AMSTERDAM CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.