Compare towns
Brighton vs Benson vs Sutton vs Bellows Falls
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Brighton has grown the fastest since 2010 (-5.3%).
Benson has the most people working from home (18.6%).
Sutton has the most homeowners (85%).
Bellows Falls has the shortest commute (20 min average).
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 | Benson | Sutton | Bellows Falls |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,167 |
784Lowest |
790 |
2,891Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.3%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-7.8% VT: +2.8% |
-11.3% VT: +2.8% |
-12.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.2±11.6 5% above VT |
51.9±9.4Highest 20% above VT |
46.6±5.7 8% above VT |
41.3±6.7Lowest 4% below VT |
| Benson and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.3%±5.7 VT: 17.9% |
16.5%±5.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
17.3%±3.4 VT: 17.9% |
22.6%±6.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Bellows Falls and Brighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 27.2%±4.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
26.9%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±2.7Lowest VT: 21.4% |
23.7%±5.7 VT: 21.4% |
| Brighton and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 25.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
32.6% VT: 43.8% |
32.8%Highest VT: 43.8% |
27.5% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±2.4 VT: 7% |
7%±5.8 VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.8Lowest VT: 7% |
8.2%±4.3Highest VT: 7% |
| Bellows Falls and Benson 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 42% below VT |
$78,625±$8kHighest 3% below VT |
$71,250±$18k 12% below VT |
$56,086±$2k 31% below VT |
| Benson and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $163,900±$39kLowest 48% below VT |
$242,000±$26kHighest 24% below VT |
$231,100±$41k 27% below VT |
$195,600±$35k 38% below VT |
| Benson and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $775±$33Lowest 37% below VT |
$1,113±$170Highest 10% below VT |
— | $1,038±$109 16% below VT |
| Benson and Bellows Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,360Lowest 33% below VT |
$4,125 18% below VT |
$3,975 21% below VT |
$4,448Highest 12% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55%±17Highest VT: 48.4% |
53.4%±35.2 VT: 48.4% |
37.8%±31.1Lowest VT: 48.4% |
43.9%±16.8 VT: 48.4% |
| Brighton and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 22% VT: 10.1% |
5.4%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
12.4% VT: 10.1% |
25.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 51.1% VT: 73.2% |
80.9% VT: 73.2% |
85%Highest VT: 73.2% |
50.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 9 yrs older than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 41% above VT |
32 min 35% above VT |
30 min 26% above VT |
20 minLowest 14% below VT |
| Work from home | 12.4%±8.1 VT: 16.9% |
18.6%±5.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
11.6%±5.3 VT: 16.9% |
6.9%±5.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Benson and Brighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Brighton School District | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 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.