Compare towns
Barton vs Appleton vs Brighton vs Wells River
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Barton has the most people working from home (16.5%).
Appleton has the most homeowners (82.6%).
Wells River has the most renters (52.1% 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 | Appleton | Brighton | Wells River |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 730 |
1,360Highest |
1,167 |
340Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 40±5.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
49.2±7.4Highest 26% above U.S. |
45.2±11.6 16% above U.S. |
42.7±12.7 10% 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 | 24.1%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.3%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.3%±5.7 U.S.: 22% |
17.1%±6.5 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+ | 21.2%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.1%±9.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.2%±4.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.4%±3.5Lowest 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+ | 21.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
25.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
16.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.6%±3.1Lowest 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 | $40,833±$8k 49% below U.S. |
$53,618±$19kHighest 34% below U.S. |
$47,375±$21k 41% below U.S. |
$38,688±$5kLowest 52% 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 | $146,900±$30kLowest 56% below U.S. |
$235,600±$33kHighest 29% below U.S. |
$163,900±$39k 51% below U.S. |
$170,800±$103k 49% below U.S. |
| Appleton and Wells River are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $761±$150Lowest 46% below U.S. |
$1,104±$82Highest 22% below U.S. |
$775±$33 45% below U.S. |
$900±$336 36% below U.S. |
| Appleton and Wells River are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,185Lowest about the U.S. average |
$3,588 15% above U.S. |
$3,360 8% above U.S. |
$4,154Highest 33% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58.8%±18.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
85.4%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
55%±17 U.S.: 51.1% |
47.6%±14.8Lowest 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 | 25.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
22% U.S.: 12.5% |
38.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
51.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
47.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1945 35 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 18% above U.S. |
30 minLowest 14% above U.S. |
33 min 25% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.5%±10.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.4%±8.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
5.2%±9.3Lowest 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 | 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.