Compare towns
Barton vs Ripton 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 kids (24.1% under 18).
Ripton has the highest household income ($113k).
Wells River has the most renters (52.1% 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 | Wells River | Brighton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 730 |
508 |
340Lowest |
1,167Highest |
| 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±5.5Lowest 7% below VT |
47.7±14.2Highest 11% above VT |
42.7±12.7 about the VT average |
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% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
17.1%±6.5 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% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.4%±3.5Lowest 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% VT: 43.8% |
48%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% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
0.6%±3.1Lowest VT: 7% |
4.6%±2.4 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $40,833±$8k 50% below VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$38,688±$5kLowest 52% below VT |
$47,375±$21k 42% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $146,900±$30kLowest 54% below VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$170,800±$103k 46% below VT |
$163,900±$39k 48% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $761±$150Lowest 38% below VT |
— | $900±$336Highest 27% below VT |
$775±$33 37% below VT |
| Wells River 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 |
$4,154 18% below VT |
$3,360 33% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58.8%±18.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
47.6%±14.8Lowest 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% |
8.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
38.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
22% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.7% VT: 73.2% |
90.9%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 |
1973Highest 3 yrs older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 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 |
34 minHighest 43% above VT |
33 min 41% above VT |
| Work from home | 16.5%±10.4 VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
5.2%±9.3Lowest 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 | — | — | — |
| 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 Our Story | 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.