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 people working from home (16.5%).
Exeter has the most homeowners (97.7%).
Brighton has grown the fastest since 2010 (-5.3%).

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.

MeasureBartonExeterBrighton
People
Population
730Lowest
913
1,167Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-6.4%
U.S.: +7.4%
-14.4%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
-5.3%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
40±5.5Lowest
about the U.S. average
51.7±12.6Highest
33% 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%
22.7%±7.1
U.S.: 22%
18.3%±5.7Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Barton and Exeter 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%
26.9%±10.5
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%
28.2%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
25.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
1.9%±1.6
U.S.: 6.4%
1%±1.9Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.6%±2.4Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Brighton and Barton 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.
$77,550±$19kHighest
4% below U.S.
$47,375±$21k
41% below U.S.
Exeter 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
56% below U.S.
$243,000±$89kHighest
27% below U.S.
$163,900±$39k
51% below U.S.
Exeter and Brighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$761±$150Lowest
46% below U.S.
$867±$44Highest
39% below U.S.
$775±$33
45% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,185
about the U.S. average
$2,926Lowest
6% below U.S.
$3,360Highest
8% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
58.8%±18.2Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
0%±100Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
55%±17
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%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
4.3%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
22%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
52.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
97.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
51.1%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1945Lowest
35 yrs older than U.S.
1977Highest
3 yrs older than U.S.
1967
13 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
31 min
18% above U.S.
29 minLowest
9% above U.S.
33 minHighest
25% above U.S.
Work from home
16.5%±10.4Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
14.4%±10.4
U.S.: 15.1%
12.4%±8.1Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Barton and Exeter 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 History 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.