Compare towns
Barton vs Derby Center vs Brighton
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 people working from home (16.5%).
Derby Center has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.4%).
Brighton has the most renters (48.9% 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 | Derby Center | Brighton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 730 |
693Lowest |
1,167Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+6.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-5.3% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 40±5.5Lowest 7% below VT |
61.1±7Highest 42% above VT |
45.2±11.6 5% above VT |
| Derby Center 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% |
14.1%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.3%±5.7 VT: 17.9% |
| 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 VT: 21.4% |
38.2%±6.5Highest VT: 21.4% |
27.2%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
| Derby Center 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% VT: 43.8% |
16.4%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
25.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
3.3%±3.4 VT: 7% |
4.6%±2.4Highest VT: 7% |
| Brighton and Derby Center 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 |
$58,250±$10kHighest 28% below VT |
$47,375±$21k 42% below VT |
| Derby Center 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 54% below VT |
$196,600±$24kHighest 38% below VT |
$163,900±$39k 48% below VT |
| Derby Center and Brighton 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 |
$1,078±$257Highest 13% below VT |
$775±$33 37% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,185 37% below VT |
$2,505Lowest 50% below VT |
$3,360Highest 33% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58.8%±18.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
48.2%±26.7Lowest VT: 48.4% |
55%±17 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% |
12.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
22% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
51.5% VT: 73.2% |
51.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1945Lowest 31 yrs older than VT |
1974Highest 2 yrs older than VT |
1967 9 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 32% above VT |
16 minLowest 31% below VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
| Work from home | 16.5%±10.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
3.2%±3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
12.4%±8.1 VT: 16.9% |
| 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 Our Story | 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.