Compare towns
Brighton vs Fitzwilliam 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
Brighton has the most affordable homes ($164k median).
Fitzwilliam has the most homeowners (94.2%).
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 | Fitzwilliam | Bellows Falls |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,167Lowest |
2,278 |
2,891Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-12.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.2±11.6 16% above U.S. |
49.2±4.2Highest 26% above U.S. |
41.3±6.7Lowest 6% above U.S. |
| Fitzwilliam 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% |
15.1%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.6%±6.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Bellows Falls and Brighton 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% |
27%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
23.7%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Brighton and Fitzwilliam 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
37.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
27.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.2%±4.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 41% below U.S. |
$100,735±$11kHighest 25% above U.S. |
$56,086±$2k 31% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $163,900±$39kLowest 51% below U.S. |
$305,900±$34kHighest 8% below U.S. |
$195,600±$35k 41% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $775±$33Lowest 45% below U.S. |
— | $1,038±$109Highest 27% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,360Lowest 8% above U.S. |
$5,173Highest 66% above U.S. |
$4,448 43% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55%±17 U.S.: 51.1% |
72.1%±51.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.9%±16.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Fitzwilliam and Brighton 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% |
9.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
25.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 51.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
50.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Highest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1967Highest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 25% above U.S. |
39 minHighest 49% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 24% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.4%±8.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.6%±4.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.9%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Fitzwilliam 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 | Monadnock Regional School District | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.