Compare towns
Brighton vs Dorset 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).
Dorset has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5%).
Bellows Falls has the youngest population (median age 41.3).
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 | Dorset | Bellows Falls |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,167Lowest |
2,092 |
2,891Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.3% VT: +2.8% |
+5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-12.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.2±11.6 5% above VT |
45.9±7.5Highest 6% above VT |
41.3±6.7Lowest 4% below VT |
| Dorset 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% |
24%±5.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
22.6%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
| Dorset and Bellows Falls 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% |
21.9%±4.5Lowest 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% |
72.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
27.5% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±2.4 VT: 7% |
2.8%±2.1Lowest 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 |
$111,250±$40kHighest 37% above VT |
$56,086±$2k 31% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $163,900±$39kLowest 48% below VT |
$569,200±$57kHighest 80% above VT |
$195,600±$35k 38% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $775±$33Lowest 37% below VT |
$1,420±$296Highest 15% above VT |
$1,038±$109 16% below VT |
| Dorset 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 |
$7,489Highest 49% above VT |
$4,448 12% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55%±17 VT: 48.4% |
74.4%±22.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
43.9%±16.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Dorset 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% |
11.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
25.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 51.1% VT: 73.2% |
90.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
50.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 9 yrs older than VT |
1972Highest 4 yrs older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 41% above VT |
22 min 8% below VT |
20 minLowest 14% below VT |
| Work from home | 12.4%±8.1 VT: 16.9% |
29.3%±7.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.9%±5.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Schools | |||
| School district | Brighton School District | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | — |
| 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.