Compare towns
Brighton vs Unity vs Barton vs Bellows Falls
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (-5.3%).
Unity has the most homeowners (94.5%).
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 | Unity | Barton | Bellows Falls |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,167 |
1,375 |
730Lowest |
2,891Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-9.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-12.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.2±11.6 16% above U.S. |
58±4.5Highest 49% above U.S. |
40±5.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
41.3±6.7 6% above U.S. |
| Unity 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% |
12%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
24.1%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
22.6%±6.4 U.S.: 22% |
| 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%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
34.9%±7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.2%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.7%±5.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Unity 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
21.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
21.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
27.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.2%±4.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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±$21k 41% below U.S. |
$87,500±$16kHighest 8% above U.S. |
$40,833±$8kLowest 49% below U.S. |
$56,086±$2k 31% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $163,900±$39k 51% below U.S. |
$276,100±$29kHighest 17% below U.S. |
$146,900±$30kLowest 56% below U.S. |
$195,600±$35k 41% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $775±$33 45% below U.S. |
$1,625±$804Highest 15% above U.S. |
$761±$150Lowest 46% below U.S. |
$1,038±$109 27% below U.S. |
| Unity and Bellows Falls 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. |
$5,394Highest 73% above U.S. |
$3,185Lowest about the U.S. average |
$4,448 43% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55%±17 U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
58.8%±18.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.9%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Barton and Brighton 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% |
6.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
25.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
25.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 51.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
52.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
50.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1945 35 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 25% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 32% above U.S. |
31 min 18% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 24% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.4%±8.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.5%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.5%±10.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.9%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | Unity School District | — | — |
| 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.