Compare towns
Barton vs Highgate vs Brighton vs Wells River
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 kids (24.1% under 18).
Highgate has the highest household income ($81k).
Brighton has the oldest population (median age 45.2).
Wells River has the most renters (52.1% 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 | Highgate | Brighton | Wells River |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 730 |
3,528Highest |
1,167 |
340Lowest |
| 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±5.5Lowest 7% below VT |
44±7.4 about the VT average |
45.2±11.6Highest 5% above VT |
42.7±12.7 about the VT average |
| Brighton and Highgate 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% |
15.8%±5.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.3%±5.7 VT: 17.9% |
17.1%±6.5 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%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
22.2%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
27.2%±4.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.4%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Brighton and Highgate 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% |
19.5% VT: 43.8% |
25.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
16.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±1.6 VT: 7% |
2.6%±2.1 VT: 7% |
4.6%±2.4Highest VT: 7% |
0.6%±3.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Brighton and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $40,833±$8k 50% below VT |
$81,017±$14kHighest about the VT average |
$47,375±$21k 42% below VT |
$38,688±$5kLowest 52% below VT |
| Highgate 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 |
$280,500±$21kHighest 11% below VT |
$163,900±$39k 48% below VT |
$170,800±$103k 46% below VT |
| Highgate and Wells River 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 |
$895±$691 27% below VT |
$775±$33 37% below VT |
$900±$336Highest 27% below VT |
| Wells River and Highgate 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 |
$3,558 29% below VT |
$3,360 33% below VT |
$4,154Highest 18% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58.8%±18.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
30.5%±11.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
55%±17 VT: 48.4% |
47.6%±14.8 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% VT: 10.1% |
8.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
22% VT: 10.1% |
38.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.7% VT: 73.2% |
80.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
51.1% VT: 73.2% |
47.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1945 31 yrs older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1967 9 yrs older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 32% above VT |
31 minLowest 32% above VT |
33 min 41% above VT |
34 minHighest 43% above VT |
| Work from home | 16.5%±10.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
12.4%±8.1 VT: 16.9% |
5.2%±9.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Barton and Highgate 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 | #43 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | — | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Brighton School District | — |
| High school in town | — | Missisquoi Valley Union High School | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.8 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.