Compare towns
Barton vs Exeter vs Brighton
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).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
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 | Exeter | Brighton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 730Lowest |
16,151Highest |
1,167 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40±5.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
45.8±2.3Highest 18% above U.S. |
45.2±11.6 16% above U.S. |
| Exeter 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% |
17%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.3%±5.7 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% |
24.4%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.2%±4.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Brighton and Exeter 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% |
59.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
25.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter 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 49% below U.S. |
$110,346±$13kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$47,375±$21k 41% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $146,900±$30kLowest 56% below U.S. |
$456,600±$21kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$163,900±$39k 51% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $761±$150Lowest 46% below U.S. |
$1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S. |
$775±$33 45% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,185Lowest about the U.S. average |
$8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$3,360 8% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58.8%±18.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
55%±17Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and Barton 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% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
22% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
51.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1945Lowest 35 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 18% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.5%±10.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.4%±8.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Exeter 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 | #22 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | — | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Brighton School District |
| High school in town | — | Exeter High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 59 photos → | 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.