Compare towns
Barton vs Barnstead 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%).
Barnstead has the highest household income ($112k).
Brighton has the oldest population (median age 45.2).
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 | Barnstead | Brighton | Wells River |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 730 |
4,994Highest |
1,167 |
340Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 40±5.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
42.8±3.1 10% above U.S. |
45.2±11.6Highest 16% above U.S. |
42.7±12.7 10% above U.S. |
| Brighton and Barnstead 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% |
21%±5 U.S.: 22% |
18.3%±5.7 U.S.: 22% |
17.1%±6.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Barton and Barnstead 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% |
20.6%±4.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.2%±4.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.4%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Brighton and Barton 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% |
30.9%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% |
5.9%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.6%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Barnstead and Brighton 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. |
$111,660±$12kHighest 38% above U.S. |
$47,375±$21k 41% below U.S. |
$38,688±$5kLowest 52% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $146,900±$30kLowest 56% below U.S. |
$362,400±$25kHighest 9% above U.S. |
$163,900±$39k 51% below U.S. |
$170,800±$103k 49% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $761±$150Lowest 46% below U.S. |
$1,395±$75Highest about the U.S. average |
$775±$33 45% below U.S. |
$900±$336 36% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,185Lowest about the U.S. average |
$6,003Highest 92% above U.S. |
$3,360 8% above U.S. |
$4,154 33% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58.8%±18.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.6%±50.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55%±17 U.S.: 51.1% |
47.6%±14.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4%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% |
93.6%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. |
1985Highest 5 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 minLowest 18% above U.S. |
31 minLowest 18% 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% |
13%±4.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.4%±8.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
5.2%±9.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Barton and Barnstead 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 | #111 of 120 in NH | — | — |
| School district | — | Barnstead School District | 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.