Compare towns
Brighton vs Exeter vs Barton 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
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
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 | Exeter | Barton | Bellows Falls |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,167 |
16,151Highest |
730Lowest |
2,891 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-12.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.2±11.6 16% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3Highest 18% above U.S. |
40±5.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
41.3±6.7 6% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Brighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.3%±5.7 U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
24.1%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
22.6%±6.4 U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.2%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.7%±5.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Brighton and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 25.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
21.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
27.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.2%±4.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Bellows Falls and Exeter 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 41% below U.S. |
$110,346±$13kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$40,833±$8kLowest 49% below U.S. |
$56,086±$2k 31% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $163,900±$39k 51% below U.S. |
$456,600±$21kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$146,900±$30kLowest 56% below U.S. |
$195,600±$35k 41% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $775±$33 45% below U.S. |
$1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S. |
$761±$150Lowest 46% below U.S. |
$1,038±$109 27% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,360 8% above U.S. |
$8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$3,185Lowest about the U.S. average |
$4,448 43% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55%±17 U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
58.8%±18.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
43.9%±16.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and Barton 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%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
25.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
25.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 51.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
52.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
50.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1945 35 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
31 min 18% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 24% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.4%±8.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.5%±10.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.9%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Exeter 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 | — | #22 of 120 in NH | #38 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Brighton School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | — | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Exeter High School | — | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 59 photos → | 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.