Compare towns
Brighton vs Fairfield vs Sheldon 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).
Fairfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.1%).
Sheldon has the most people working from home (13%).
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 | Fairfield | Sheldon | Bellows Falls |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,167Lowest |
1,938 |
2,267 |
2,891Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.3% VT: +2.8% |
+8.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.5% VT: +2.8% |
-12.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.2±11.6Highest 5% above VT |
42.3±2.7 about the VT average |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% below VT |
41.3±6.7 4% below VT |
| Brighton and Fairfield 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% |
25.4%±5Highest VT: 17.9% |
23.7%±3.6 VT: 17.9% |
22.6%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
| Fairfield and Sheldon 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% |
14.3%±1.8 VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest 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% VT: 43.8% |
30.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
27.5% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±2.4 VT: 7% |
3.5%±1.6 VT: 7% |
2%±1.3Lowest 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 |
$87,019±$22kHighest 7% above VT |
$78,533±$25k 3% below VT |
$56,086±$2k 31% below VT |
| Fairfield and Sheldon 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 |
$320,600±$22kHighest about the VT average |
$272,400±$61k 14% below VT |
$195,600±$35k 38% below VT |
| Fairfield and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $775±$33Lowest 37% below VT |
$1,056±$441 14% below VT |
$1,286±$379Highest 4% above VT |
$1,038±$109 16% below VT |
| Sheldon and Fairfield 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 |
$4,816Highest 4% below VT |
$3,578 29% below VT |
$4,448 12% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55%±17Highest VT: 48.4% |
29.2%±20.4 VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
43.9%±16.8 VT: 48.4% |
| Brighton and Bellows Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 22% VT: 10.1% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
25.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 51.1% VT: 73.2% |
88.5% VT: 73.2% |
89%Highest VT: 73.2% |
50.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 9 yrs older than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1984Highest 8 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 |
25 min 7% above VT |
20 minLowest 14% below VT |
| Work from home | 12.4%±8.1 VT: 16.9% |
7.8%±3 VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.9%±5.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Sheldon 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 | Maple Run Unified Union School District #57 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | — |
| 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.