Compare towns
Barton vs Brighton vs Strafford
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).
Brighton has the most renters (48.9% rent).
Strafford has the most expensive homes ($431k median).
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 | Strafford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 730Lowest |
1,167 |
1,372Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-5.3% VT: +2.8% |
-0.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 40±5.5Lowest 7% below VT |
45.2±11.6 5% above VT |
51.4±4.7Highest 19% above VT |
| Strafford 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 VT: 17.9% |
18.3%±5.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Barton and Strafford 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% |
27.2%±4.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
22.1%±3.4 VT: 21.4% |
| Brighton and Strafford 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% |
25.9% VT: 43.8% |
53.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
4.6%±2.4 VT: 7% |
5.1%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
| Strafford 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 |
$47,375±$21k 42% below VT |
$110,833±$19kHighest 36% above VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $146,900±$30kLowest 54% below VT |
$163,900±$39k 48% below VT |
$431,300±$40kHighest 36% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $761±$150Lowest 38% below VT |
$775±$33 37% below VT |
$1,125±$789Highest 9% below VT |
| Strafford and Brighton 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 |
$3,360 33% below VT |
$7,149Highest 42% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58.8%±18.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
55%±17 VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±48Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| 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 VT: 10.1% |
22% VT: 10.1% |
5.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.7% VT: 73.2% |
51.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
88.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1945Lowest 31 yrs older than VT |
1967 9 yrs older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 32% above VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
23 minLowest about the VT average |
| Work from home | 16.5%±10.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.4%±8.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
| Barton and Strafford 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 | Strafford School District |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.