Compare towns

Brighton vs Cornwall 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).
Cornwall has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.9%).
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.

MeasureBrightonCornwallBellows Falls
People
Population
1,167Lowest
1,208
2,891Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-5.3%
VT: +2.8%
+1.9%Highest
VT: +2.8%
-12.7%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
45.2±11.6
5% above VT
50.4±4.6Highest
17% above VT
41.3±6.7Lowest
4% below VT
Cornwall and Brighton 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%
18.7%±3
VT: 17.9%
22.6%±6.4Highest
VT: 17.9%
Bellows Falls and Cornwall 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%
25.7%±6.1
VT: 21.4%
23.7%±5.7Lowest
VT: 21.4%
Brighton and Cornwall 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%
54.7%Highest
VT: 43.8%
27.5%
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.6%±2.4
VT: 7%
3.7%±3.1Lowest
VT: 7%
8.2%±4.3Highest
VT: 7%
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
42% below VT
$114,583±$32kHighest
41% above VT
$56,086±$2k
31% below VT
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$163,900±$39kLowest
48% below VT
$458,000±$49kHighest
45% above VT
$195,600±$35k
38% below VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$775±$33Lowest
37% below VT
$1,125±$206Highest
9% below VT
$1,038±$109
16% below VT
Cornwall 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
$6,726Highest
33% above VT
$4,448
12% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
55%±17
VT: 48.4%
61.9%±65.5Highest
VT: 48.4%
43.9%±16.8Lowest
VT: 48.4%
Cornwall and Brighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
22%
VT: 10.1%
0.8%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
25.1%Highest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
51.1%
VT: 73.2%
94.3%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
24 min
about the VT average
20 minLowest
14% below VT
Work from home
12.4%±8.1
VT: 16.9%
24.4%±6.6Highest
VT: 16.9%
6.9%±5.3Lowest
VT: 16.9%
Cornwall 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 Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 —
High school in town None in town None in town —
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.