Compare towns
Brighton vs Orange 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).
Orange has the most homeowners (87.8%).
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 | Orange | Bellows Falls |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,167 |
957Lowest |
2,891Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.3% VT: +2.8% |
-2.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-12.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.2±11.6 5% above VT |
50.3±5.3Highest 17% above VT |
41.3±6.7Lowest 4% below VT |
| Orange 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% |
15.6%±4.7Lowest 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%±4.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.4%±4Lowest 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% |
22.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
27.5%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±2.4 VT: 7% |
2.4%±1.9Lowest 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 |
$71,302±$13kHighest 12% below VT |
$56,086±$2k 31% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $163,900±$39kLowest 48% below VT |
$222,000±$22kHighest 30% below VT |
$195,600±$35k 38% below VT |
| Orange and Bellows Falls 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 |
$1,330±$153Highest 8% above VT |
$1,038±$109 16% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,360Lowest 33% below VT |
$3,545 30% below VT |
$4,448Highest 12% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55%±17Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±87Lowest 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% |
7.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
25.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 51.1% VT: 73.2% |
87.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
50.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 9 yrs older than VT |
1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 41% above VT |
28 min 19% above VT |
20 minLowest 14% below VT |
| Work from home | 12.4%±8.1 VT: 16.9% |
13.5%±4.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.9%±5.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Orange 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 | Echo Valley Community Union School District #67 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.