Compare towns
Brighton vs Brewer 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%).
Brewer has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2%).
Bellows Falls has the most kids (22.6% under 18).
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 | Brewer | Bellows Falls |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,167Lowest |
9,652Highest |
2,891 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-12.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.2±11.6Highest 16% above U.S. |
40.1±4.8Lowest 3% above U.S. |
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% |
20.9%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
22.6%±6.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Bellows Falls and Brewer 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% |
22.4%±3.6Lowest 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
35%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
27.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.7%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.2%±4.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Bellows Falls and Brewer 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. |
$66,613±$9kHighest 17% below U.S. |
$56,086±$2k 31% below U.S. |
| Brewer 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±$39kLowest 51% below U.S. |
$245,300±$21kHighest 26% below U.S. |
$195,600±$35k 41% below U.S. |
| Brewer and Bellows Falls 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. |
$1,086±$54Highest 23% below U.S. |
$1,038±$109 27% below U.S. |
| Brewer 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 8% above U.S. |
$3,374 8% above U.S. |
$4,448Highest 43% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55%±17 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.7%±13.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.9%±16.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Brewer and Brighton 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% |
12.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
25.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 51.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
59.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
50.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Highest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1959 21 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
17 minLowest 36% below U.S. |
20 min 24% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.4%±8.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.9%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Brighton and Brewer 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 | — | #32 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | Brighton School District | Brewer Public Schools | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Brewer High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.0 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.