Compare towns
Barton vs Windham vs Brighton vs Wells River
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 kids (24.1% under 18).
Windham has the highest household income ($108k).
Brighton has the oldest population (median age 45.2).
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 | Windham | Brighton | Wells River |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 730 |
19,188Highest |
1,167 |
340Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 40±5.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
41.8±1.8 7% above U.S. |
45.2±11.6Highest 16% above U.S. |
42.7±12.7 10% above U.S. |
| Brighton and Wells River are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 24.1%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
18.3%±5.7 U.S.: 22% |
17.1%±6.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Barton and Windham 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% |
15.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.2%±4.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.4%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Brighton and Barton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
44.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
25.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
16.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.6%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Brighton and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $40,833±$8k 49% below U.S. |
$107,934±$14kHighest 34% above U.S. |
$47,375±$21k 41% below U.S. |
$38,688±$5kLowest 52% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $146,900±$30kLowest 56% below U.S. |
$388,900±$22kHighest 17% above U.S. |
$163,900±$39k 51% below U.S. |
$170,800±$103k 49% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $761±$150Lowest 46% below U.S. |
$1,232±$332Highest 13% below U.S. |
$775±$33 45% below U.S. |
$900±$336 36% below U.S. |
| Windham and Wells River 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 |
$3,938 26% above U.S. |
$3,360 8% above U.S. |
$4,154Highest 33% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58.8%±18.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
32.7%±14.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55%±17 U.S.: 51.1% |
47.6%±14.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
22% U.S.: 12.5% |
38.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
51.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
47.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1945 35 yrs older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 18% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
33 min 25% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.5%±10.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.4%±8.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
5.2%±9.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Windham 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 | #95 of 133 in ME | — | — |
| School district | — | RSU 14 | Brighton School District | — |
| High school in town | — | Windham High School | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1 |
— | — |
| 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.