Compare towns

Barton vs Brighton vs Hampton vs Orleans

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 oldest population (median age 45.2).
Hampton has the highest household income ($74k).
Orleans has grown the fastest since 2010 (-3.7%).

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.

MeasureBartonBrightonHamptonOrleans
People
Population
730Lowest
1,167Highest
1,145
809
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-6.4%
U.S.: +7.4%
-5.3%
U.S.: +7.4%
-8.6%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
-3.7%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
40±5.5Lowest
about the U.S. average
45.2±11.6Highest
16% above U.S.
43.1±14.7
11% above U.S.
41.7±5.8
7% above U.S.
Brighton and Hampton 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%
15.9%±6.9Lowest
U.S.: 22%
17.9%±4.5
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%
27.2%±4.6Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
20.6%±3.3
U.S.: 17.2%
19.7%±3.2Lowest
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%
25.9%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
15.9%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
24.8%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
1.9%±1.6Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.6%±2.4Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.2%±3.1
U.S.: 6.4%
3.7%±2.1
U.S.: 6.4%
Brighton and Orleans 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.
$73,796±$8kHighest
9% below U.S.
$57,159±$10k
29% below U.S.
Hampton and Orleans 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.
$166,800±$10kHighest
50% below U.S.
$156,300±$18k
53% below U.S.
Hampton and Brighton 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.
$1,264±$375Highest
11% below U.S.
$810±$94
43% below U.S.
Hampton and Orleans are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,185
about the U.S. average
$3,360Highest
8% above U.S.
$3,007Lowest
4% below U.S.
$3,019
3% below U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
58.8%±18.2Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
55%±17
U.S.: 51.1%
13.2%±25.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
27.3%±17.2
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%
22%
U.S.: 12.5%
16.5%
U.S.: 12.5%
8.2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
52.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
51.1%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
78.4%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
64.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1945
35 yrs older than U.S.
1967
13 yrs older than U.S.
1987Highest
7 yrs newer than U.S.
1938Lowest
42 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
31 min
18% above U.S.
33 minHighest
25% above U.S.
27 minLowest
about the U.S. average
31 min
19% above U.S.
Work from home
16.5%±10.4Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
12.4%±8.1
U.S.: 15.1%
7.8%±8.4Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
8.3%±3.7
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 — —
High school 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.