Compare towns
Brighton vs Wilder vs Bellows Falls vs Barton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wilder has grown the fastest since 2010 (+81.7%).
Bellows Falls has the most renters (49.3% rent).
Barton has the most people working from home (16.5%).
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 | Wilder | Bellows Falls | Barton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,167 |
3,087Highest |
2,891 |
730Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.3% VT: +2.8% |
+81.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-12.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-6.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.2±11.6 5% above VT |
45.5±8.9Highest 6% above VT |
41.3±6.7 4% below VT |
40±5.5Lowest 7% below VT |
| Wilder 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% |
11.8%±4.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
22.6%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
24.1%±5.4Highest 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%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
27.3%±4.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
23.7%±5.7 VT: 21.4% |
21.2%±4.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Wilder 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% |
60.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
27.5% VT: 43.8% |
21.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±2.4 VT: 7% |
8.1%±3.9 VT: 7% |
8.2%±4.3Highest VT: 7% |
1.9%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
| Bellows Falls and Wilder 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 |
$75,143±$9kHighest 7% below VT |
$56,086±$2k 31% below VT |
$40,833±$8kLowest 50% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $163,900±$39k 48% below VT |
$273,200±$18kHighest 14% below VT |
$195,600±$35k 38% below VT |
$146,900±$30kLowest 54% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $775±$33 37% below VT |
$1,142±$451Highest 7% below VT |
$1,038±$109 16% below VT |
$761±$150Lowest 38% below VT |
| Wilder 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 33% below VT |
$5,505Highest 9% above VT |
$4,448 12% below VT |
$3,185Lowest 37% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55%±17 VT: 48.4% |
39.9%±17.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
43.9%±16.8 VT: 48.4% |
58.8%±18.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Barton and Brighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 22% VT: 10.1% |
9.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
25.1% VT: 10.1% |
25.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 51.1% VT: 73.2% |
62.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
50.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
52.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 9 yrs older than VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1945 31 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 41% above VT |
17 minLowest 29% below VT |
20 min 14% below VT |
31 min 32% above VT |
| Work from home | 12.4%±8.1 VT: 16.9% |
12.6%±6.7 VT: 16.9% |
6.9%±5.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
16.5%±10.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Barton and Wilder 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 | — | — | — |
| High school in town | None in town | — | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.