Compare towns
Brighton vs Barre vs Barton vs Ludlow
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Barre has the highest household income ($66k).
Barton has the most kids (24.1% under 18).
Ludlow has the most expensive homes ($304k median).
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 | Barre | Barton | Ludlow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,167 |
8,412Highest |
730Lowest |
808 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.3% VT: +2.8% |
-6.2% VT: +2.8% |
-6.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.2±11.6 5% above VT |
42.2±6.6 about the VT average |
40±5.5Lowest 7% below VT |
48.7±5.6Highest 13% above VT |
| Ludlow and Brighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.3%±5.7 VT: 17.9% |
13.5%±3.8 VT: 17.9% |
24.1%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
13.1%±3.7Lowest 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+ | 27.2%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
19.4%±3.9Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21.2%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
30.4%±0.5Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Ludlow 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% VT: 43.8% |
36.1% VT: 43.8% |
21.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
39.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±2.4Highest VT: 7% |
3.4%±1.9 VT: 7% |
1.9%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
2.6%±1.6 VT: 7% |
| Brighton and Barre 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 42% below VT |
$65,625±$7kHighest 19% below VT |
$40,833±$8kLowest 50% below VT |
$56,667±$19k 30% below VT |
| Barre and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $163,900±$39k 48% below VT |
$210,400±$15k 34% below VT |
$146,900±$30kLowest 54% below VT |
$304,000±$32kHighest 4% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $775±$33 37% below VT |
$1,093±$58Highest 11% below VT |
$761±$150Lowest 38% below VT |
$1,018±$91 18% below VT |
| Barre and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,360 33% below VT |
$5,192Highest 3% above VT |
$3,185Lowest 37% below VT |
$4,237 16% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55%±17 VT: 48.4% |
34.4%±10.3 VT: 48.4% |
58.8%±18.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
33%±13.8Lowest 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 | 22% VT: 10.1% |
17.3% VT: 10.1% |
25.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 51.1% VT: 73.2% |
50.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
52.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
51.4% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Highest 9 yrs older than VT |
1947 29 yrs older than VT |
1945 31 yrs older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 41% above VT |
19 minLowest 21% below VT |
31 min 32% above VT |
21 min 10% below VT |
| Work from home | 12.4%±8.1 VT: 16.9% |
10.5%±4.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
16.5%±10.4 VT: 16.9% |
17.3%±6.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Ludlow 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 | — | #19 of 70 in VT | #38 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Brighton School District | Barre Unified Union School District #97 · Central Vermont Career Center | — | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Spaulding Union High School | — | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.7 |
— | — |
| 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.