Compare towns
Brighton vs Sheffield vs Barton 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 oldest population (median age 45.2).
Sheffield has the most homeowners (83.7%).
Barton has the most people working from home (16.5%).
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 | Sheffield | Barton | Bellows Falls |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,167 |
573Lowest |
730 |
2,891Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.3% VT: +2.8% |
-3%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-6.4% VT: +2.8% |
-12.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.2±11.6Highest 5% above VT |
42±8 about the VT average |
40±5.5Lowest 7% below VT |
41.3±6.7 4% below VT |
| Brighton and Sheffield 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% |
17.1%±6.6Lowest VT: 17.9% |
24.1%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
22.6%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
| Barton and Bellows Falls 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% |
19.2%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21.2%±4.2 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% |
27.1% VT: 43.8% |
21.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
27.5%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±2.4 VT: 7% |
5.9%±4.7 VT: 7% |
1.9%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
8.2%±4.3Highest VT: 7% |
| Bellows Falls and Sheffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $47,375±$21k 42% below VT |
$58,333±$26kHighest 28% below VT |
$40,833±$8kLowest 50% below VT |
$56,086±$2k 31% below VT |
| Sheffield and Bellows Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $163,900±$39k 48% below VT |
$171,900±$50k 46% below VT |
$146,900±$30kLowest 54% below VT |
$195,600±$35kHighest 38% below VT |
| Bellows Falls and Sheffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $775±$33 37% below VT |
$967±$79 22% below VT |
$761±$150Lowest 38% below VT |
$1,038±$109Highest 16% below VT |
| Bellows Falls and Sheffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,360 33% below VT |
$2,123Lowest 58% below VT |
$3,185 37% below VT |
$4,448Highest 12% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55%±17 VT: 48.4% |
61.5%±41.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
58.8%±18.2 VT: 48.4% |
43.9%±16.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Sheffield and Barton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 22% VT: 10.1% |
6.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
25.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
25.1% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 51.1% VT: 73.2% |
83.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
52.7% VT: 73.2% |
50.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 9 yrs older than VT |
1987Highest 11 yrs newer than VT |
1945 31 yrs older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 41% above VT |
30 min 28% above VT |
31 min 32% above VT |
20 minLowest 14% below VT |
| Work from home | 12.4%±8.1 VT: 16.9% |
6.1%±2.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
16.5%±10.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.9%±5.3 VT: 16.9% |
| Barton 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 | — | — | #38 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Brighton School District | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 | — | — |
| 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.