Compare towns
Barton vs Benson vs Orwell 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 youngest population (median age 40).
Benson has the most people working from home (18.6%).
Orwell has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.9%).
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 | Benson | Orwell | Brighton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 730Lowest |
784 |
1,294Highest |
1,167 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.4% VT: +2.8% |
-7.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-5.3% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 40±5.5Lowest 7% below VT |
51.9±9.4Highest 20% above VT |
47.5±7 10% above VT |
45.2±11.6 5% above VT |
| Benson and Orwell 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% |
16.5%±5.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.8%±5.4 VT: 17.9% |
18.3%±5.7 VT: 17.9% |
| Barton and Orwell 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% |
26.9%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
24%±3.1 VT: 21.4% |
27.2%±4.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Brighton and Benson 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% |
32.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
22.1% VT: 43.8% |
25.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
7%±5.8Highest VT: 7% |
3.6%±1.9 VT: 7% |
4.6%±2.4 VT: 7% |
| Benson 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±$8kLowest 50% below VT |
$78,625±$8kHighest 3% below VT |
$70,417±$22k 13% below VT |
$47,375±$21k 42% below VT |
| Benson and Orwell 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 |
$242,000±$26k 24% below VT |
$335,600±$25kHighest 6% above VT |
$163,900±$39k 48% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $761±$150Lowest 38% below VT |
$1,113±$170Highest 10% below VT |
$1,105±$51 10% below VT |
$775±$33 37% below VT |
| Benson and Orwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,185Lowest 37% below VT |
$4,125Highest 18% below VT |
$3,914 22% below VT |
$3,360 33% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58.8%±18.2 VT: 48.4% |
53.4%±35.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
62.1%±35.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
55%±17 VT: 48.4% |
| Orwell and Barton 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% |
5.4%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
10.8% VT: 10.1% |
22% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.7% VT: 73.2% |
80.9% VT: 73.2% |
87.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
51.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1945Lowest 31 yrs older than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1967 9 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 32% above VT |
32 min 35% above VT |
27 minLowest 15% above VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
| Work from home | 16.5%±10.4 VT: 16.9% |
18.6%±5.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
13.3%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
12.4%±8.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Benson 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 | — | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Brighton School District |
| High school in town | — | None 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.