Compare towns
Barton vs Ripton vs Reading 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).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Reading has the most people working from home (22.9%).
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 | Ripton | Reading | Brighton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 730 |
508Lowest |
699 |
1,167Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+3.2% VT: +2.8% |
-5.3% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 40±5.5Lowest 7% below VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
51.1±7.6Highest 19% above VT |
45.2±11.6 5% above VT |
| Reading and Ripton 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% |
18.5%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
18.3%±5.7 VT: 17.9% |
| Barton and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.2%±4.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
28.2%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
27.2%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Reading 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% |
46% 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% |
3.1%±2.5 VT: 7% |
4.6%±2.4 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $40,833±$8kLowest 50% below VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$85,000±$19k 5% above VT |
$47,375±$21k 42% below VT |
| Ripton and Reading 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 |
$377,200±$72k 19% above VT |
$163,900±$39k 48% below VT |
| Ripton and Reading 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 |
— | $1,100±$331Highest 11% below VT |
$775±$33 37% below VT |
| Reading 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 |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$5,754Highest 14% above VT |
$3,360 33% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58.8%±18.2 VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
55%±17 VT: 48.4% |
| Reading 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% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
8.4%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
22% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.7% VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
84.9% VT: 73.2% |
51.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1945Lowest 31 yrs older than VT |
1973Highest 3 yrs older than VT |
1969 7 yrs older than VT |
1967 9 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 32% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
| Work from home | 16.5%±10.4 VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.4%±8.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Reading and Ripton 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 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Brighton School District |
| 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.