Compare towns
Barton vs Brighton vs Meredith
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 kids (24.1% under 18).
Brighton has the most renters (48.9% rent).
Meredith has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.7%).
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.
| Measure | Barton | Brighton | Meredith |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 730Lowest |
1,167 |
6,758Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40±5.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
45.2±11.6 16% above U.S. |
55.5±3.7Highest 43% above U.S. |
| Meredith 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% |
12.6%±3.3Lowest 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%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.2%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
34.2%±5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Meredith 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% |
45.9%Highest 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% |
2.9%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Brighton and Meredith 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. |
$87,019±$19kHighest 8% above U.S. |
| Meredith 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. |
$480,100±$48kHighest 44% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $761±$150Lowest 46% below U.S. |
$775±$33 45% below U.S. |
$1,149±$304Highest 19% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,185Lowest about the U.S. average |
$3,360 8% above U.S. |
$5,006Highest 61% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58.8%±18.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
55%±17 U.S.: 51.1% |
48.5%±9.2Lowest 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% |
7.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
51.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1945Lowest 35 yrs older than U.S. |
1967 13 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 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 16.5%±10.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.4%±8.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.7%±4.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Meredith 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 | — | #62 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | Brighton School District | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Inter-Lakes High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.1 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.