Compare towns
Brighton vs Appleton vs Charleston vs Barton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Brighton has the most renters (48.9% rent).
Appleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).
Charleston has the oldest population (median age 58.4).
Barton has the most kids (24.1% under 18).
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 | Brighton | Appleton | Charleston | Barton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,167 |
1,360Highest |
936 |
730Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.2±11.6 16% above U.S. |
49.2±7.4 26% above U.S. |
58.4±9.3Highest 50% above U.S. |
40±5.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Charleston and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.3%±5.7 U.S.: 22% |
15.3%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
11.2%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
24.1%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Barton and Brighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 27.2%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.1%±9.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
37.7%±8.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.2%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Charleston and Brighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 25.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
13.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
21.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Brighton and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $47,375±$21k 41% below U.S. |
$53,618±$19kHighest 34% below U.S. |
$49,286±$17k 39% below U.S. |
$40,833±$8kLowest 49% below U.S. |
| Appleton and Charleston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $163,900±$39k 51% below U.S. |
$235,600±$33k 29% below U.S. |
$238,000±$53kHighest 28% below U.S. |
$146,900±$30kLowest 56% below U.S. |
| Charleston and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $775±$33 45% below U.S. |
$1,104±$82Highest 22% below U.S. |
$979±$444 31% below U.S. |
$761±$150Lowest 46% below U.S. |
| Appleton and Charleston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,360 8% above U.S. |
$3,588 15% above U.S. |
$3,750Highest 20% above U.S. |
$3,185Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55%±17 U.S.: 51.1% |
85.4%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
32.7%±26.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
58.8%±18.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Appleton and Barton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 22% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
25.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 51.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
52.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1945Lowest 35 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
30 min 14% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
31 min 18% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.4%±8.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.7%±7.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.5%±10.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Charleston 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 | Brighton School District | Appleton Public Schools | Charleston 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 |
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.