Compare towns
Barton vs Bellows Falls vs Brighton vs Mapleton
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%).
Bellows Falls has the shortest commute (20 min average).
Brighton has the oldest population (median age 45.2).
Mapleton has the highest household income ($92k).
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 | Bellows Falls | Brighton | Mapleton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 730Lowest |
2,891Highest |
1,167 |
1,884 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-12.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40±5.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
41.3±6.7 6% above U.S. |
45.2±11.6Highest 16% above U.S. |
41.8±6 7% above U.S. |
| Brighton and Mapleton 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% |
22.6%±6.4 U.S.: 22% |
18.3%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Barton and Bellows Falls 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% |
23.7%±5.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.2%±4.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Brighton and Bellows Falls 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
27.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
25.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.2%±4.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Bellows Falls and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $40,833±$8kLowest 49% below U.S. |
$56,086±$2k 31% below U.S. |
$47,375±$21k 41% below U.S. |
$91,731±$25kHighest 14% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $146,900±$30kLowest 56% below U.S. |
$195,600±$35kHighest 41% below U.S. |
$163,900±$39k 51% below U.S. |
$191,800±$23k 42% below U.S. |
| Bellows Falls and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $761±$150 46% below U.S. |
$1,038±$109Highest 27% below U.S. |
$775±$33 45% below U.S. |
$610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,185 about the U.S. average |
$4,448Highest 43% above U.S. |
$3,360 8% above U.S. |
$1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58.8%±18.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.9%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
55%±17 U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest 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%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
25.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
22% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
50.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
51.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1945 35 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 18% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 24% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.5%±10.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.9%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.4%±8.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8 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 | — | — | Brighton School District | RSU 79/MSAD 01 |
| 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.