Compare towns
Brighton vs Cornish vs Ogunquit 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 affordable homes ($164k median).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
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 | Cornish | Ogunquit | Bellows Falls |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,167Lowest |
1,816 |
1,379 |
2,891Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-12.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.2±11.6 16% above U.S. |
54±8.3 39% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
41.3±6.7Lowest 6% above U.S. |
| Ogunquit and Cornish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.3%±5.7 U.S.: 22% |
14.4%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.6%±6.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| 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%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.3%±4.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.7%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 25.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
27.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.4%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8 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. |
$91,821±$2k 14% above U.S. |
$114,259±$56kHighest 42% above U.S. |
$56,086±$2k 31% below U.S. |
| Ogunquit and Cornish 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. |
$296,000±$69k 11% below U.S. |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
$195,600±$35k 41% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $775±$33Lowest 45% below U.S. |
$1,221±$227Highest 14% below U.S. |
— | $1,038±$109 27% below U.S. |
| Cornish 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. |
$5,796Highest 86% above U.S. |
$4,473 43% above U.S. |
$4,448 43% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55%±17Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40.5%±38.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.9%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Brighton and Bellows Falls 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% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
25.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 51.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
50.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
24 min 8% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
20 minLowest 24% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.4%±8.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
12%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.9%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Brighton School District | Cornish School District | — | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.



