Compare towns
Brighton vs Dummerston vs Barton 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
Dummerston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.1%).
Barton has the most affordable homes ($147k median).
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 | Dummerston | Barton | Bellows Falls |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,167 |
2,090 |
730Lowest |
2,891Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.3% VT: +2.8% |
+0.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-6.4% VT: +2.8% |
-12.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.2±11.6 5% above VT |
45.6±11.7Highest 6% above VT |
40±5.5Lowest 7% below VT |
41.3±6.7 4% below VT |
| Dummerston 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% |
21.7%±6 VT: 17.9% |
24.1%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
22.6%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
| Barton 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% |
24.3%±3 VT: 21.4% |
21.2%±4.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
23.7%±5.7 VT: 21.4% |
| Brighton and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 25.9% VT: 43.8% |
58.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
21.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
27.5% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±2.4 VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
1.9%±1.6 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±$21k 42% below VT |
$101,696±$21kHighest 25% above VT |
$40,833±$8kLowest 50% below VT |
$56,086±$2k 31% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $163,900±$39k 48% below VT |
$335,300±$22kHighest 6% above VT |
$146,900±$30kLowest 54% below VT |
$195,600±$35k 38% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $775±$33 37% below VT |
$1,392±$126Highest 13% above VT |
$761±$150Lowest 38% below VT |
$1,038±$109 16% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,360 33% below VT |
$4,536Highest 10% below VT |
$3,185Lowest 37% below VT |
$4,448 12% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55%±17 VT: 48.4% |
44.1%±32.2 VT: 48.4% |
58.8%±18.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
43.9%±16.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Barton 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% |
4.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
25.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
25.1% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 51.1% VT: 73.2% |
92.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
52.7% VT: 73.2% |
50.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 9 yrs older than VT |
1971Highest 5 yrs older than VT |
1945 31 yrs older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 41% above VT |
21 min 11% below VT |
31 min 32% above VT |
20 minLowest 14% below VT |
| Work from home | 12.4%±8.1 VT: 16.9% |
25.9%±10.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.5%±10.4 VT: 16.9% |
6.9%±5.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Dummerston and Barton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | — | #38 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Brighton School District | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | — | — |
| High school 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.