Compare towns
Windsor vs Marshfield vs Brighton 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
Marshfield has the most homeowners (81.2%).
Brighton has the most affordable homes ($164k median).
Bellows Falls has the most expensive homes ($196k median).
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 | Windsor | Marshfield | Brighton | Bellows Falls |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,060 |
470Lowest |
1,167 |
2,891Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— | -5.3% VT: +2.8% |
-12.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.6±12.3 3% above VT |
42.4±8.8 about the VT average |
45.2±11.6Highest 5% above VT |
41.3±6.7Lowest 4% below VT |
| Brighton and Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.1%±8.8 VT: 17.9% |
19.4%±9.1 VT: 17.9% |
18.3%±5.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
22.6%±6.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
| 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 VT: 21.4% |
10.2%±4.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
27.2%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
23.7%±5.7 VT: 21.4% |
| Windsor and Brighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40%Highest VT: 43.8% |
35.7% VT: 43.8% |
25.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
27.5% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.2%±1.4Lowest VT: 7% |
3.6%±2.4 VT: 7% |
4.6%±2.4 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 | $51,197±$4k 37% below VT |
$84,375±$20kHighest 4% above VT |
$47,375±$21kLowest 42% below VT |
$56,086±$2k 31% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $170,300±$22k 46% below VT |
$178,300±$31k 44% below VT |
$163,900±$39kLowest 48% below VT |
$195,600±$35kHighest 38% below VT |
| Bellows Falls and Marshfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,002±$107 19% below VT |
$1,125±$79Highest 9% below VT |
$775±$33Lowest 37% below VT |
$1,038±$109 16% below VT |
| Marshfield and Bellows Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,878Highest 3% below VT |
$3,269Lowest 35% below VT |
$3,360 33% below VT |
$4,448 12% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.4%±20Lowest VT: 48.4% |
52.4%±62.4 VT: 48.4% |
55%±17Highest VT: 48.4% |
43.9%±16.8 VT: 48.4% |
| Brighton and Marshfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.8% VT: 10.1% |
4.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
22% VT: 10.1% |
25.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 51.6% VT: 73.2% |
81.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
51.1% VT: 73.2% |
50.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1967Highest 9 yrs older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 6% below VT |
29 min 24% above VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
20 minLowest 14% below VT |
| Work from home | 6.6%±4.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
17.5%±7.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.4%±8.1 VT: 16.9% |
6.9%±5.3 VT: 16.9% |
| Marshfield 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 | #61 of 70 in VT | — | — | — |
| School district | — | — | Brighton School District | — |
| High school 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.