Compare towns

Windsor vs Cornish vs Brighton 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

Windsor has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.5%).
Cornish has the most homeowners (94.1%).
Brighton has the most affordable homes ($164k median).
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.

MeasureWindsorCornishBrightonBellows Falls
People
Population
2,060
1,816
1,167Lowest
2,891Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+3.5%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-1.5%
U.S.: +7.4%
-5.3%
U.S.: +7.4%
-12.7%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
44.6±12.3
15% above U.S.
54±8.3Highest
39% above U.S.
45.2±11.6
16% above U.S.
41.3±6.7Lowest
6% above U.S.
Cornish and Brighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
21.1%±8.8
U.S.: 22%
14.4%±3.2Lowest
U.S.: 22%
18.3%±5.7
U.S.: 22%
22.6%±6.4Highest
U.S.: 22%
Bellows Falls and Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
29.2%±8Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
27.3%±4.1
U.S.: 17.2%
27.2%±4.6
U.S.: 17.2%
23.7%±5.7Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Windsor and Cornish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
40%
U.S.: 35.7%
40.6%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
25.9%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
27.5%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
1.2%±1.4Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
1.4%±0.9
U.S.: 6.4%
4.6%±2.4
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
$51,197±$4k
37% below U.S.
$91,821±$2kHighest
14% above U.S.
$47,375±$21kLowest
41% below U.S.
$56,086±$2k
31% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$170,300±$22k
49% below U.S.
$296,000±$69kHighest
11% below U.S.
$163,900±$39kLowest
51% below U.S.
$195,600±$35k
41% below U.S.
Cornish and Bellows Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,002±$107
29% below U.S.
$1,221±$227Highest
14% below U.S.
$775±$33Lowest
45% below U.S.
$1,038±$109
27% below U.S.
Cornish and Bellows Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,878
56% above U.S.
$5,796Highest
86% above U.S.
$3,360Lowest
8% above U.S.
$4,448
43% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
31.4%±20Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
40.5%±38.1
U.S.: 51.1%
55%±17Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
43.9%±16.8
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
7.8%
U.S.: 12.5%
4.7%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
22%
U.S.: 12.5%
25.1%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
51.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
94.1%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
51.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
50.7%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1938Lowest
42 yrs older than U.S.
1980Highest
same as U.S.
1967
13 yrs older than U.S.
1938Lowest
42 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
22 min
16% below U.S.
24 min
8% below U.S.
33 minHighest
25% above U.S.
20 minLowest
24% below U.S.
Work from home
6.6%±4.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
12%±4.1
U.S.: 15.1%
12.4%±8.1Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
6.9%±5.3
U.S.: 15.1%
Brighton and Cornish 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 #61 of 70 in VT — — —
School district — Cornish School District Brighton School District —
High school in town — None in town None in town —
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story 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.