Compare towns
Barton vs Proctor vs Wells River 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 people working from home (16.5%).
Proctor has the most homeowners (86.7%).
Wells River has the most renters (52.1% rent).
Brighton has the oldest population (median age 45.2).
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 | Proctor | Wells River | Brighton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 730 |
1,794Highest |
340Lowest |
1,167 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+1.3%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— | -5.3% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 40±5.5Lowest 7% below VT |
42.4±6.4 about the VT average |
42.7±12.7 about the VT average |
45.2±11.6Highest 5% above VT |
| Brighton and Wells River 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% |
21.8%±4.4 VT: 17.9% |
17.1%±6.5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.3%±5.7 VT: 17.9% |
| Barton and Proctor 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% |
22.4%±2.5 VT: 21.4% |
19.4%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
27.2%±4.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Brighton and Proctor 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% |
28.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
16.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
25.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±1.6 VT: 7% |
3.6%±1.7 VT: 7% |
0.6%±3.1Lowest VT: 7% |
4.6%±2.4Highest VT: 7% |
| Brighton and Proctor 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 |
$74,167±$12kHighest 9% below VT |
$38,688±$5kLowest 52% below VT |
$47,375±$21k 42% below VT |
| Proctor 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 |
$209,900±$17kHighest 34% below VT |
$170,800±$103k 46% below VT |
$163,900±$39k 48% below VT |
| Proctor 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 |
$1,029±$202Highest 17% below VT |
$900±$336 27% below VT |
$775±$33 37% below VT |
| Proctor and Wells River 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 |
$4,032 20% below VT |
$4,154Highest 18% below VT |
$3,360 33% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58.8%±18.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
37.3%±16.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
47.6%±14.8 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% VT: 10.1% |
16.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
38.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
22% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.7% VT: 73.2% |
86.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
47.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
51.1% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1945 31 yrs older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1967Highest 9 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 32% above VT |
22 minLowest 6% below VT |
34 minHighest 43% above VT |
33 min 41% above VT |
| Work from home | 16.5%±10.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
9.4%±4.6 VT: 16.9% |
5.2%±9.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
12.4%±8.1 VT: 16.9% |
| Barton and Brighton 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 | — | Quarry Valley Unified Union School District #70 | — | Brighton School District |
| High school in town | — | Proctor Junior/Senior High School | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.7 |
— | — |
| 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.