Compare towns
Barton vs Poultney vs Ripton 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).
Poultney has the youngest population (median age 28.2).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
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 | Poultney | Ripton | Brighton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 730 |
1,033 |
508Lowest |
1,167Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.4% VT: +2.8% |
-33.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-5.3% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 40±5.5 7% below VT |
28.2±4.5Lowest 35% below VT |
47.7±14.2Highest 11% above VT |
45.2±11.6 5% above VT |
| Ripton 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% |
16.8%±5 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.3%±5.7 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% |
21.1%±6.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
27.2%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton 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% |
38.4% VT: 43.8% |
48%Highest VT: 43.8% |
25.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
22.1%±3.3Highest VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3 VT: 7% |
4.6%±2.4 VT: 7% |
| Poultney and Ripton 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 |
$70,536±$11k 13% below VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$47,375±$21k 42% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $146,900±$30kLowest 54% below VT |
$196,600±$43k 38% below VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$163,900±$39k 48% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $761±$150Lowest 38% below VT |
$868±$113Highest 30% below VT |
— | $775±$33 37% below VT |
| Poultney 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 |
$3,450 32% below VT |
$4,915Highest about the VT average |
$3,360 33% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58.8%±18.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
23.2%±12.4Lowest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
55%±17 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%Highest VT: 10.1% |
11.4% VT: 10.1% |
8.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
22% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.7% VT: 73.2% |
56.7% VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
51.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1945 31 yrs older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1973Highest 3 yrs older than VT |
1967 9 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 32% above VT |
31 min 33% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
| Work from home | 16.5%±10.4 VT: 16.9% |
11.3%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.4%±8.1 VT: 16.9% |
| Ripton 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 | #41 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.