Compare towns
Brighton vs Cornwall vs Shoreham 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%).
Shoreham has the oldest population (median age 51.8).
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 | Cornwall | Shoreham | Bellows Falls |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,167Lowest |
1,208 |
1,269 |
2,891Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.3% VT: +2.8% |
+1.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.4% VT: +2.8% |
-12.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.2±11.6 5% above VT |
50.4±4.6 17% above VT |
51.8±7.2Highest 20% above VT |
41.3±6.7Lowest 4% below VT |
| Shoreham and Cornwall 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% |
18.7%±3 VT: 17.9% |
18%±4.7Lowest 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% |
26.1%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
23.7%±5.7Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Brighton and Shoreham 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% |
36.2% VT: 43.8% |
27.5% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±2.4 VT: 7% |
3.7%±3.1 VT: 7% |
1.7%±1.1Lowest 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 |
$93,654±$23k 15% above VT |
$56,086±$2k 31% below VT |
| Cornwall and Shoreham 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 |
$458,000±$49kHighest 45% above VT |
$316,400±$34k about the VT average |
$195,600±$35k 38% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $775±$33Lowest 37% below VT |
$1,125±$206 9% below VT |
$1,306±$335Highest 6% above VT |
$1,038±$109 16% below VT |
| Shoreham and Cornwall 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 |
$4,713 6% below 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% |
33.3%±48.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
43.9%±16.8 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% |
8.3% VT: 10.1% |
25.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 51.1% VT: 73.2% |
94.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.9% VT: 73.2% |
50.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 9 yrs older than VT |
1976 same as VT |
1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 41% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
26 min 11% above VT |
20 minLowest 14% below VT |
| Work from home | 12.4%±8.1 VT: 16.9% |
24.4%±6.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
15.9%±5.2 VT: 16.9% |
6.9%±5.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Cornwall and Shoreham 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 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | — |
| 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.