Compare towns
Barton vs Halifax 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 affordable homes ($147k median).
Halifax has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.9%).
Brighton has the oldest population (median age 45.2).
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 | Halifax | Brighton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 730Lowest |
847 |
1,167Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-5.3% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 40±5.5Lowest 7% below VT |
40.6±13.1 6% below VT |
45.2±11.6Highest 5% above VT |
| Brighton and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 24.1%±5.4 VT: 17.9% |
25.4%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.3%±5.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Halifax and Barton 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% |
22.6%±7.2 VT: 21.4% |
27.2%±4.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Brighton and Halifax 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% |
44.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
25.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±1.6 VT: 7% |
1.2%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
4.6%±2.4Highest VT: 7% |
| 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 50% below VT |
$63,889±$7kHighest 21% below VT |
$47,375±$21k 42% below VT |
| Halifax 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 |
$267,500±$21kHighest 16% below VT |
$163,900±$39k 48% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $761±$150Lowest 38% below VT |
$875±$154Highest 29% below VT |
$775±$33 37% below VT |
| Halifax and Brighton 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 |
$4,991Highest about the VT average |
$3,360 33% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58.8%±18.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
57.1%±73.8 VT: 48.4% |
55%±17Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Barton and Halifax 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%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
22% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.7% VT: 73.2% |
86.6%Highest VT: 73.2% |
51.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1945Lowest 31 yrs older than VT |
1968Highest 8 yrs older than VT |
1967 9 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minLowest 32% above VT |
33 min 38% above VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
| Work from home | 16.5%±10.4 VT: 16.9% |
29.9%±11.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.4%±8.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Halifax 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 | — | Halifax School District | Brighton School District |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.