Compare towns
Barton vs Cavendish vs Brighton vs Whiting
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 most affordable homes ($147k median).
Cavendish has the most homeowners (81.3%).
Brighton has the most renters (48.9% rent).
Whiting has the highest household income ($91k).
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 | Cavendish | Brighton | Whiting |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 730 |
1,242Highest |
1,167 |
532Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+1.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-5.3% VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 40±5.5 7% below VT |
45.2±5.9Highest 5% above VT |
45.2±11.6Highest 5% above VT |
39.6±2.7Lowest 8% below VT |
| Kids under 18 | 24.1%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.3%±4.8Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.3%±5.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23.5%±6.9 VT: 17.9% |
| Barton and Whiting are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.2%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
23.6%±2 VT: 21.4% |
27.2%±4.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
13%±5.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Brighton and Cavendish 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% |
39.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
25.9% VT: 43.8% |
25.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
4.3%±1.9 VT: 7% |
4.6%±2.4 VT: 7% |
6.2%±4Highest VT: 7% |
| Whiting 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 |
$89,063±$29k 10% above VT |
$47,375±$21k 42% below VT |
$91,250±$38kHighest 12% above VT |
| Whiting and Cavendish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $146,900±$30kLowest 54% below VT |
$285,100±$40kHighest 10% below VT |
$163,900±$39k 48% below VT |
$280,400±$36k 11% below VT |
| Cavendish and Whiting are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $761±$150Lowest 38% below VT |
$1,000±$546 19% below VT |
$775±$33 37% below VT |
$1,204±$519Highest about the VT average |
| Whiting and Cavendish 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 |
$3,948 22% below VT |
$3,360 33% below VT |
$4,227Highest 16% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58.8%±18.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
28.9%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
55%±17 VT: 48.4% |
58.3%±37.3 VT: 48.4% |
| Barton and Whiting 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% |
6.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
22% VT: 10.1% |
11.5% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.7% VT: 73.2% |
81.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
51.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
65.4% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1945Lowest 31 yrs older than VT |
1968 8 yrs older than VT |
1967 9 yrs older than VT |
1975Highest 1 yr older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 32% above VT |
19 minLowest 21% below VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
22 min 7% below VT |
| Work from home | 16.5%±10.4 VT: 16.9% |
18.5%±6.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.4%±8.1 VT: 16.9% |
10%±5.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Cavendish 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 | — | — | — |
| School district | — | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | Brighton School District | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 18 photos → | 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.