Compare towns
Windsor vs Sumner vs Bellows Falls vs Brighton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sumner has the most homeowners (91.1%).
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 | Sumner | Bellows Falls | Brighton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,060 |
845Lowest |
2,891Highest |
1,167 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-12.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±12.3 15% above U.S. |
56.1±8.4Highest 44% above U.S. |
41.3±6.7Lowest 6% above U.S. |
45.2±11.6 16% above U.S. |
| Sumner 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% |
17.2%±6.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.6%±6.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.3%±5.7 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%±8 U.S.: 17.2% |
29.7%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.7%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.2%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Sumner and Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
15.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
27.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
25.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.4%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.2%±4.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±2.4 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. |
$57,750±$19kHighest 28% below U.S. |
$56,086±$2k 31% below U.S. |
$47,375±$21kLowest 41% below U.S. |
| Sumner and Bellows Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $170,300±$22k 49% below U.S. |
$150,000±$73kLowest 55% below U.S. |
$195,600±$35kHighest 41% below U.S. |
$163,900±$39k 51% below U.S. |
| Bellows Falls and Windsor 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. |
— | $1,038±$109Highest 27% below U.S. |
$775±$33Lowest 45% below U.S. |
| Bellows Falls and Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,878Highest 56% above U.S. |
$2,167Lowest 31% below U.S. |
$4,448 43% above U.S. |
$3,360 8% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.4%±20Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.9%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
55%±17 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Sumner and Brighton 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% |
5.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
25.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
22% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 51.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
91.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
50.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
51.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 16% below U.S. |
42 minHighest 60% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 24% below U.S. |
33 min 25% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 6.6%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.5%±8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.9%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.4%±8.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sumner 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 | — | RSU 10 | — | Brighton 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.