Compare towns

Barton vs Mendon vs Cornwall 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 kids (24.1% under 18).
Mendon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).
Cornwall has the most expensive homes ($458k median).
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.

MeasureBartonMendonCornwallBrighton
People
Population
730Lowest
1,113
1,208Highest
1,167
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-6.4%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
+8.5%Highest
VT: +2.8%
+1.9%
VT: +2.8%
-5.3%
VT: +2.8%
Median age
40±5.5Lowest
7% below VT
53.4±10.5Highest
24% above VT
50.4±4.6
17% above VT
45.2±11.6
5% above VT
Mendon and Cornwall 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%
14.6%±5.2Lowest
VT: 17.9%
18.7%±3
VT: 17.9%
18.3%±5.7
VT: 17.9%
Barton and Cornwall 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%
29%±1.3Highest
VT: 21.4%
25.7%±6.1
VT: 21.4%
27.2%±4.6
VT: 21.4%
Mendon 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%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
49.4%
VT: 43.8%
54.7%Highest
VT: 43.8%
25.9%
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
1.9%±1.6Lowest
VT: 7%
3.1%±2.1
VT: 7%
3.7%±3.1
VT: 7%
4.6%±2.4Highest
VT: 7%
Brighton and Cornwall 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
$100,524±$23k
24% above VT
$114,583±$32kHighest
41% above VT
$47,375±$21k
42% below VT
Cornwall and Mendon 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
$357,000±$44k
13% above VT
$458,000±$49kHighest
45% above VT
$163,900±$39k
48% below VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$761±$150Lowest
38% below VT
$1,230±$651Highest
about the VT average
$1,125±$206
9% below VT
$775±$33
37% below VT
Mendon and Cornwall 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
$5,342
6% above VT
$6,726Highest
33% above VT
$3,360
33% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
58.8%±18.2
VT: 48.4%
88.6%±42.7Highest
VT: 48.4%
61.9%±65.5
VT: 48.4%
55%±17Lowest
VT: 48.4%
Mendon and Cornwall 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%
8.2%
VT: 10.1%
0.8%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
22%
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
52.7%
VT: 73.2%
92.2%
VT: 73.2%
94.3%Highest
VT: 73.2%
51.1%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1945Lowest
31 yrs older than VT
1977Highest
1 yr newer than VT
1976
same as VT
1967
9 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
31 min
32% above VT
17 minLowest
28% below VT
24 min
about the VT average
33 minHighest
41% above VT
Work from home
16.5%±10.4
VT: 16.9%
22.5%±8.9
VT: 16.9%
24.4%±6.6Highest
VT: 16.9%
12.4%±8.1Lowest
VT: 16.9%
Cornwall and Mendon 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 — — Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 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 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.