Compare towns
Barton vs Brighton vs Colrain vs Whiting
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%).
Brighton has the most renters (48.9% rent).
Colrain has the most homeowners (86.5%).
Whiting has the shortest commute (22 min average).
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 | Brighton | Colrain | Whiting |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 730 |
1,167 |
1,627Highest |
532Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 40±5.5 about the U.S. average |
45.2±11.6 16% above U.S. |
49.6±8.7Highest 28% above U.S. |
39.6±2.7Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Colrain 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% |
18.3%±5.7 U.S.: 22% |
15.3%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.5%±6.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Barton and Whiting 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% |
27.2%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.4%±4.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
13%±5.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Colrain 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
25.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
37.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
25.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Whiting 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 49% below U.S. |
$47,375±$21k 41% below U.S. |
$80,673±$10k about the U.S. average |
$91,250±$38kHighest 13% above U.S. |
| Whiting and Colrain 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. |
$163,900±$39k 51% below U.S. |
$284,300±$14kHighest 15% below U.S. |
$280,400±$36k 16% below U.S. |
| Colrain and Whiting 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. |
$775±$33 45% below U.S. |
$1,102±$77 22% below U.S. |
$1,204±$519Highest 15% below U.S. |
| Whiting and Colrain 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 |
$3,360 8% above U.S. |
$4,317Highest 38% above U.S. |
$4,227 36% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58.8%±18.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
55%±17 U.S.: 51.1% |
46%±22.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
58.3%±37.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Barton and Whiting 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% |
22% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
51.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
65.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1945Lowest 35 yrs older than U.S. |
1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 18% above U.S. |
33 min 25% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.5%±10.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.4%±8.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.4%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±5.4 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 | Mohawk Trail | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 |
| 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 |
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.