Compare towns
Brighton vs Hancock vs Ripton 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).
Hancock has the youngest population (median age 33.8).
Ripton has the most expensive homes ($394k median).
Bellows Falls has the most kids (22.6% under 18).
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 | Hancock | Ripton | Bellows Falls |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,167 |
435Lowest |
508 |
2,891Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.3% VT: +2.8% |
— | +25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-12.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.2±11.6 5% above VT |
33.8±11.6Lowest 22% below VT |
47.7±14.2Highest 11% above VT |
41.3±6.7 4% below VT |
| Ripton 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 VT: 17.9% |
17.2%±5.8 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
22.6%±6.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
| 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%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
19.8%±3.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
23.7%±5.7 VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Brighton 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% |
34.3% VT: 43.8% |
48%Highest VT: 43.8% |
27.5% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±2.4 VT: 7% |
3.7%±3.6Lowest VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
8.2%±4.3 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $47,375±$21kLowest 42% below VT |
$76,250±$34k 6% below VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$56,086±$2k 31% below VT |
| Ripton and Hancock 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 |
$187,900±$11k 41% below VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$195,600±$35k 38% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $775±$33Lowest 37% below VT |
$939±$19 24% below VT |
— | $1,038±$109Highest 16% below VT |
| Bellows Falls and Hancock 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 |
$3,511 30% below VT |
$4,915Highest about the VT average |
$4,448 12% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55%±17Highest VT: 48.4% |
3.5%±16.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
43.9%±16.8 VT: 48.4% |
| Brighton and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 22% VT: 10.1% |
5.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
25.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 51.1% VT: 73.2% |
59.5% VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
50.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 9 yrs older than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1973Highest 3 yrs older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 41% above VT |
28 min 17% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
20 minLowest 14% below VT |
| Work from home | 12.4%±8.1 VT: 16.9% |
11.7%±5 VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.9%±5.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Ripton 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 | — | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | — |
| 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.