Compare towns
Barton vs Stowe vs Worcester 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 youngest population (median age 40).
Stowe has grown the fastest since 2010 (+21.1%).
Worcester has the most homeowners (85.9%).
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 | Stowe | Worcester | Brighton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 730Lowest |
5,285Highest |
831 |
1,167 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+21.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.4% VT: +2.8% |
-5.3% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 40±5.5Lowest 7% below VT |
46.3±7.6 7% above VT |
47±2.7Highest 9% above VT |
45.2±11.6 5% above VT |
| Worcester and Stowe 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% |
22.5%±4.6 VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.3%±5.7 VT: 17.9% |
| Barton and Stowe 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% |
25.8%±6.2 VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±2.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
27.2%±4.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Brighton and Stowe 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% |
66.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
53% VT: 43.8% |
25.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±1.6 VT: 7% |
1.6%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
6.9%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
4.6%±2.4 VT: 7% |
| Worcester and Brighton 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 |
$93,618±$33kHighest 15% above VT |
$73,833±$18k 9% below VT |
$47,375±$21k 42% below VT |
| Stowe and Worcester 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 |
$647,800±$157kHighest 105% above VT |
$271,100±$27k 14% below VT |
$163,900±$39k 48% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $761±$150Lowest 38% below VT |
$1,458±$242Highest 18% above VT |
$1,023±$136 17% below VT |
$775±$33 37% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,185Lowest 37% below VT |
$7,161Highest 42% above VT |
$4,421 12% below VT |
$3,360 33% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58.8%±18.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
24.5%±15.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
25.5%±37 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% |
9.9% VT: 10.1% |
5.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
22% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.7% VT: 73.2% |
78.6% VT: 73.2% |
85.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
51.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1945Lowest 31 yrs older than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1976 same as VT |
1967 9 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 32% above VT |
19 minLowest 18% below VT |
29 min 22% above VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
| Work from home | 16.5%±10.4 VT: 16.9% |
24.4%±8.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
23.6%±4.8 VT: 16.9% |
12.4%±8.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Stowe and Worcester 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 | — | Stowe Town School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Brighton School District |
| High school in town | — | Stowe High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.3 |
— | — |
| 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.