Compare towns
Brighton vs Mapleton vs Bellows Falls vs Ludlow
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).
Mapleton has the highest household income ($92k).
Bellows Falls has the shortest commute (20 min average).
Ludlow has the most expensive homes ($304k median).
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 | Mapleton | Bellows Falls | Ludlow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,167 |
1,884 |
2,891Highest |
808Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-12.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.2±11.6 16% above U.S. |
41.8±6 7% above U.S. |
41.3±6.7Lowest 6% above U.S. |
48.7±5.6Highest 25% above U.S. |
| Ludlow 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% |
22.2%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
22.6%±6.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.1%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Bellows Falls and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 27.2%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.7%±5.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.4%±0.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ludlow 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
34.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
27.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
39.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.2%±4.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.6%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Bellows Falls and Mapleton 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. |
$91,731±$25kHighest 14% above U.S. |
$56,086±$2k 31% below U.S. |
$56,667±$19k 30% below U.S. |
| Mapleton and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $163,900±$39kLowest 51% below U.S. |
$191,800±$23k 42% below U.S. |
$195,600±$35k 41% below U.S. |
$304,000±$32kHighest 9% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $775±$33 45% below U.S. |
$610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$1,038±$109Highest 27% below U.S. |
$1,018±$91 28% below U.S. |
| Bellows Falls and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,360 8% above U.S. |
$1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
$4,448Highest 43% above U.S. |
$4,237 36% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55%±17Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.9%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
33%±13.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
25.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 51.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
50.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
51.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 24% below U.S. |
21 min 20% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.4%±8.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.9%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.3%±6.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ludlow 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 | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | — | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.