Compare towns
Brighton vs Highgate vs Windsor 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).
Highgate has the most homeowners (80.7%).
Windsor has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.5%).
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 | Highgate | Windsor | Bellows Falls |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,167Lowest |
3,528Highest |
2,060 |
2,891 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.3% VT: +2.8% |
-1.8% VT: +2.8% |
+3.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-12.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.2±11.6Highest 5% above VT |
44±7.4 about the VT average |
44.6±12.3 3% above VT |
41.3±6.7Lowest 4% below VT |
| Brighton and Windsor 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% |
15.8%±5.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.1%±8.8 VT: 17.9% |
22.6%±6.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Bellows Falls and Windsor 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% |
22.2%±5.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29.2%±8Highest VT: 21.4% |
23.7%±5.7 VT: 21.4% |
| Windsor 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% VT: 43.8% |
19.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
40%Highest VT: 43.8% |
27.5% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±2.4 VT: 7% |
2.6%±2.1 VT: 7% |
1.2%±1.4Lowest 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 |
$81,017±$14kHighest about the VT average |
$51,197±$4k 37% below VT |
$56,086±$2k 31% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $163,900±$39kLowest 48% below VT |
$280,500±$21kHighest 11% below VT |
$170,300±$22k 46% below VT |
$195,600±$35k 38% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $775±$33Lowest 37% below VT |
$895±$691 27% below VT |
$1,002±$107 19% below VT |
$1,038±$109Highest 16% below VT |
| Bellows Falls and Windsor 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 |
$3,558 29% below VT |
$4,878Highest 3% below VT |
$4,448 12% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55%±17Highest VT: 48.4% |
30.5%±11.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
31.4%±20 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% |
8.1% VT: 10.1% |
7.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
25.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 51.1% VT: 73.2% |
80.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
51.6% VT: 73.2% |
50.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 9 yrs older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 41% above VT |
31 min 32% above VT |
22 min 6% below VT |
20 minLowest 14% below VT |
| Work from home | 12.4%±8.1 VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±7.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.6%±4.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
6.9%±5.3 VT: 16.9% |
| Highgate and Brighton 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 | — | #43 of 70 in VT | #61 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Brighton School District | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | — | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Missisquoi Valley Union High School | — | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.8 |
— | — |
| 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.