Compare towns
Barton vs Union vs Brighton vs Whiting
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Barton has the most affordable homes ($147k median).
Union has the most homeowners (85.9%).
Brighton has the oldest population (median age 45.2).
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.
| Measure | Barton | Union | Brighton | Whiting |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 730 |
2,663Highest |
1,167 |
532Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 40±5.5 about the U.S. average |
41.6±5.3 7% above U.S. |
45.2±11.6Highest 16% above U.S. |
39.6±2.7Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Brighton and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 24.1%±5.4 U.S.: 22% |
24.9%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.3%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.5%±6.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Union and Barton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.2%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.2%±4.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
13%±5.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Brighton and Union 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
34.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
25.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
25.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Whiting 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 49% below U.S. |
$80,724±$9k about the U.S. average |
$47,375±$21k 41% below U.S. |
$91,250±$38kHighest 13% above U.S. |
| Whiting and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $146,900±$30kLowest 56% below U.S. |
$267,600±$42k 20% below U.S. |
$163,900±$39k 51% below U.S. |
$280,400±$36kHighest 16% below U.S. |
| Whiting and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $761±$150Lowest 46% below U.S. |
$1,179±$452 17% below U.S. |
$775±$33 45% below U.S. |
$1,204±$519Highest 15% below U.S. |
| Whiting and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,185Lowest about the U.S. average |
$3,276 5% above U.S. |
$3,360 8% above U.S. |
$4,227Highest 36% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58.8%±18.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
24.6%±19.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55%±17 U.S.: 51.1% |
58.3%±37.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
10.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
22% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
51.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
65.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1945Lowest 35 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 18% above U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.5%±10.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.9%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.4%±8.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Barton and Union 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 | — | RSU 40/MSAD 40 | 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 |
U.S. 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.