Compare towns
Appleton vs Barton 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
Appleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).
Barton has the most people working from home (16.5%).
Brighton has the most renters (48.9% rent).
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 | Appleton | Barton | Brighton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,360Highest |
730Lowest |
1,167 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4Highest 26% above U.S. |
40±5.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
45.2±11.6 16% above U.S. |
| Appleton and Brighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.3%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
24.1%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.3%±5.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Barton and Brighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.1%±9.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.2%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.2%±4.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Brighton and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
21.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
25.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Brighton and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $53,618±$19kHighest 34% below U.S. |
$40,833±$8kLowest 49% below U.S. |
$47,375±$21k 41% below U.S. |
| Appleton and Brighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $235,600±$33kHighest 29% below U.S. |
$146,900±$30kLowest 56% below U.S. |
$163,900±$39k 51% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,104±$82Highest 22% below U.S. |
$761±$150Lowest 46% below U.S. |
$775±$33 45% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,588Highest 15% above U.S. |
$3,185Lowest about the U.S. average |
$3,360 8% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
58.8%±18.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
55%±17Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Appleton and Barton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
25.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
22% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
52.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
51.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1945Lowest 35 yrs older than U.S. |
1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minLowest 14% above U.S. |
31 min 18% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.5%±10.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.4%±8.1 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 | Appleton Public Schools | — | 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 |
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.