Compare towns
Barton vs Mendon vs Whiting 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).
Mendon has the most homeowners (92.2%).
Whiting has the youngest population (median age 39.6).
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 | Whiting | Brighton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 730 |
1,113 |
532Lowest |
1,167Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+8.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— | -5.3% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 40±5.5 7% below VT |
53.4±10.5Highest 24% above VT |
39.6±2.7Lowest 8% 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%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±5.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23.5%±6.9 VT: 17.9% |
18.3%±5.7 VT: 17.9% |
| Barton and Whiting 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% |
13%±5.1Lowest 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%Highest VT: 43.8% |
25.9% 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% |
6.2%±4Highest VT: 7% |
4.6%±2.4 VT: 7% |
| Whiting and Brighton 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 |
$91,250±$38k 12% above VT |
$47,375±$21k 42% below VT |
| Mendon and Whiting 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±$44kHighest 13% above VT |
$280,400±$36k 11% below VT |
$163,900±$39k 48% below VT |
| Mendon and Whiting 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 |
$1,230±$651Highest about the VT average |
$1,204±$519 about the VT average |
$775±$33 37% below VT |
| Mendon and Whiting 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 |
$5,342Highest 6% above VT |
$4,227 16% 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% |
58.3%±37.3 VT: 48.4% |
55%±17Lowest 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% |
11.5% VT: 10.1% |
22% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.7% VT: 73.2% |
92.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
65.4% 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 |
1975 1 yr 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 |
22 min 7% below VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
| Work from home | 16.5%±10.4 VT: 16.9% |
22.5%±8.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
10%±5.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
12.4%±8.1 VT: 16.9% |
| Mendon 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 | — | — | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 | 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.