Compare towns
Barton vs Brighton vs Hampton 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%).
Brighton has the oldest population (median age 45.2).
Hampton has the highest household income ($74k).
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 | Brighton | Hampton | Wells River |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 730 |
1,167Highest |
1,145 |
340Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-8.6%Lowest 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. |
42.7±12.7 10% 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% |
17.1%±6.5 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% |
19.4%±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% |
25.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
15.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
16.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.2%±3.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.6%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Brighton and Hampton 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. |
$47,375±$21k 41% below U.S. |
$73,796±$8kHighest 9% below U.S. |
$38,688±$5kLowest 52% below U.S. |
| Hampton and Brighton 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±$10k 50% below U.S. |
$170,800±$103kHighest 49% below U.S. |
| Wells River and Hampton 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. |
$900±$336 36% below U.S. |
| Hampton and Wells River 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 |
$3,360 8% above U.S. |
$3,007Lowest 4% below U.S. |
$4,154Highest 33% above 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% |
47.6%±14.8 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% |
22% U.S.: 12.5% |
16.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
38.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
51.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
78.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
47.9%Lowest 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 min 25% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.5%±10.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.4%±8.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
7.8%±8.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
5.2%±9.3Lowest 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.