Compare towns
Barton vs Brighton vs Windham 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 affordable homes ($147k median).
Brighton has the oldest population (median age 45.2).
Windham has the most expensive homes ($723k median).
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 | Windham | Wells River |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 730 |
1,167 |
16,038Highest |
340Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 40±5.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
45.2±11.6Highest 16% above U.S. |
41.1±2.9 6% above U.S. |
42.7±12.7 10% above U.S. |
| Brighton and Wells River are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 24.1%±5.4 U.S.: 22% |
18.3%±5.7 U.S.: 22% |
27.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.1%±6.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Windham and Barton 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% |
15.5%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.4%±3.5 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
62.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
16.3%Lowest 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% |
3.8%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.6%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Brighton and Windham 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. |
$189,583±$19kHighest 135% above U.S. |
$38,688±$5kLowest 52% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $146,900±$30kLowest 56% below U.S. |
$163,900±$39k 51% below U.S. |
$723,300±$50kHighest 117% above U.S. |
$170,800±$103k 49% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $761±$150Lowest 46% below U.S. |
$775±$33 45% below U.S. |
$3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
$900±$336 36% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,185Lowest about the U.S. average |
$3,360 8% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,154 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% |
52.2%±50.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
47.6%±14.8Lowest 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% |
2%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% |
93.9%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. |
1996Highest 16 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. |
31 minLowest 17% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.5%±10.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.4%±8.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
5.2%±9.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Windham 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 | — | #13 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | — | Brighton School District | Windham School District | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Windham High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.8 |
— |
| 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.