Compare towns
Brighton vs Calais 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 the most affordable homes ($164k median).
Calais has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.4%).
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 | Calais | Bellows Falls |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,167Lowest |
1,713 |
2,891Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.3% VT: +2.8% |
+3.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-12.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.2±11.6Highest 5% above VT |
42±8.6 about the VT average |
41.3±6.7Lowest 4% below VT |
| Brighton and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.3%±5.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
22.5%±5.4 VT: 17.9% |
22.6%±6.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Bellows Falls and Calais 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% |
21.6%±5.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
23.7%±5.7 VT: 21.4% |
| 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 VT: 43.8% |
55.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
27.5% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±2.4Lowest VT: 7% |
7.4%±3.4 VT: 7% |
8.2%±4.3Highest VT: 7% |
| Bellows Falls and Calais 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 |
$100,625±$27kHighest 24% above VT |
$56,086±$2k 31% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $163,900±$39kLowest 48% below VT |
$390,300±$36kHighest 23% above VT |
$195,600±$35k 38% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $775±$33Lowest 37% below VT |
$1,408±$392Highest 14% above VT |
$1,038±$109 16% below VT |
| Calais 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 |
$6,586Highest 31% above VT |
$4,448 12% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55%±17Highest VT: 48.4% |
49%±38.3 VT: 48.4% |
43.9%±16.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Brighton and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 22% VT: 10.1% |
8.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
25.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 51.1% VT: 73.2% |
92.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
50.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 9 yrs older than VT |
1976Highest same as VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 41% above VT |
31 min 32% above VT |
20 minLowest 14% below VT |
| Work from home | 12.4%±8.1 VT: 16.9% |
23.4%±7.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.9%±5.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Calais 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 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.