Compare towns

Barton vs Ripton vs Brighton vs Whiting

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).
Ripton has the most expensive homes ($394k median).
Brighton has the most renters (48.9% rent).
Whiting has the shortest commute (22 min average).

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.

MeasureBartonRiptonBrightonWhiting
People
Population
730
508Lowest
1,167Highest
532
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-6.4%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
+25.7%Highest
VT: +2.8%
-5.3%
VT: +2.8%
—
Median age
40±5.5
7% below VT
47.7±14.2Highest
11% above VT
45.2±11.6
5% above VT
39.6±2.7Lowest
8% below 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%
11.8%±6.3Lowest
VT: 17.9%
18.3%±5.7
VT: 17.9%
23.5%±6.9
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%
30.5%±7.1Highest
VT: 21.4%
27.2%±4.6
VT: 21.4%
13%±5.1Lowest
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%
48%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%
20.1%±6.3Highest
VT: 7%
4.6%±2.4
VT: 7%
6.2%±4
VT: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$40,833±$8kLowest
50% below VT
$112,917±$15kHighest
39% above VT
$47,375±$21k
42% below VT
$91,250±$38k
12% above VT
Ripton 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
$394,400±$61kHighest
25% above VT
$163,900±$39k
48% below VT
$280,400±$36k
11% below VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$761±$150Lowest
38% below VT
—
$775±$33
37% below VT
$1,204±$519Highest
about the VT average
Whiting 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
$4,915Highest
about the VT average
$3,360
33% below VT
$4,227
16% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
58.8%±18.2Highest
VT: 48.4%
52.9%±100Lowest
VT: 48.4%
55%±17
VT: 48.4%
58.3%±37.3
VT: 48.4%
Barton and Whiting 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%
8.6%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
22%
VT: 10.1%
11.5%
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
52.7%
VT: 73.2%
90.9%Highest
VT: 73.2%
51.1%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
65.4%
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1945Lowest
31 yrs older than VT
1973
3 yrs older than VT
1967
9 yrs older than VT
1975Highest
1 yr older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
31 min
32% above VT
24 min
about the VT average
33 minHighest
41% above VT
22 minLowest
7% below VT
Work from home
16.5%±10.4
VT: 16.9%
17.2%±8.7Highest
VT: 16.9%
12.4%±8.1
VT: 16.9%
10%±5.4Lowest
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 — — —
School district — Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 Brighton School District Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53
High school in town — None 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.