Compare towns
Barton vs Addison vs Ripton vs Brighton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Barton has the most kids (24.1% under 18).
Addison has the oldest population (median age 53.1).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
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 | Barton | Addison | Ripton | Brighton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 730 |
1,175Highest |
508Lowest |
1,167 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.4% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-5.3% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 40±5.5Lowest 7% below VT |
53.1±7.6Highest 23% above VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
45.2±11.6 5% above VT |
| Addison and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 24.1%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.6%±5.1 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.3%±5.7 VT: 17.9% |
| Barton and Addison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.2%±4.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
27.1%±1.9 VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
27.2%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Brighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
40.2% VT: 43.8% |
48%Highest VT: 43.8% |
25.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
5.4%±2.3 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
4.6%±2.4 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $40,833±$8kLowest 50% below VT |
$106,667±$7k 31% above VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$47,375±$21k 42% below VT |
| Ripton and Addison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $146,900±$30kLowest 54% below VT |
$362,200±$23k 14% above VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$163,900±$39k 48% below VT |
| Ripton and Addison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $761±$150Lowest 38% below VT |
$2,019±$461Highest 64% above VT |
— | $775±$33 37% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,185Lowest 37% below VT |
$5,831Highest 16% above VT |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$3,360 33% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58.8%±18.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
41.9%±62.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
55%±17 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 | 25.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
4.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
22% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.7% VT: 73.2% |
89.2% VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
51.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1945Lowest 31 yrs older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1967 9 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 32% above VT |
28 min 18% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
| Work from home | 16.5%±10.4 VT: 16.9% |
12.3%±5.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.4%±8.1 VT: 16.9% |
| Ripton and Barton 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 | — | — | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | 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 |
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.