Compare towns
Barton vs Mendon vs North Troy 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 oldest housing (typical home built 1945).
Mendon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).
North Troy has the most kids (31.6% under 18).
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 | Mendon | North Troy | Brighton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 730 |
1,113 |
506Lowest |
1,167Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+8.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+1.8% VT: +2.8% |
-5.3% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 40±5.5 7% below VT |
53.4±10.5Highest 24% above VT |
34.1±4.4Lowest 21% below VT |
45.2±11.6 5% above VT |
| Mendon and Brighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 24.1%±5.4 VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±5.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
31.6%±9.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.3%±5.7 VT: 17.9% |
| North Troy and Barton 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% |
29%±1.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
16%±6Lowest 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% VT: 43.8% |
49.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
16.6%Lowest 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% |
2.6%±3.7 VT: 7% |
4.6%±2.4Highest VT: 7% |
| Brighton and Mendon 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±$23kHighest 24% above VT |
$50,417±$5k 38% below VT |
$47,375±$21k 42% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $146,900±$30k 54% below VT |
$357,000±$44kHighest 13% above VT |
$121,100±$20kLowest 62% below VT |
$163,900±$39k 48% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $761±$150 38% below VT |
$1,230±$651Highest about the VT average |
$597±$179Lowest 52% below VT |
$775±$33 37% below VT |
| Mendon and Brighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,185 37% below VT |
$5,342Highest 6% above VT |
$2,641Lowest 48% below 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% |
37.3%±30.7Lowest VT: 48.4% |
55%±17 VT: 48.4% |
| Mendon 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 VT: 10.1% |
8.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
21.5% VT: 10.1% |
22% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.7% VT: 73.2% |
92.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
63.8% 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 |
1957 19 yrs older than VT |
1967 9 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 32% above VT |
17 minLowest 28% below VT |
50 minHighest 113% above VT |
33 min 41% above VT |
| Work from home | 16.5%±10.4 VT: 16.9% |
22.5%±8.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
17.6%±8.4 VT: 16.9% |
12.4%±8.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Mendon and North Troy 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 | 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.