Compare towns
Brighton vs Belvidere 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
Brighton has the most renters (48.9% rent).
Belvidere has the most homeowners (86.1%).
Barton has the most affordable homes ($147k median).
Ludlow has the shortest commute (21 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 | Brighton | Belvidere | Barton | Ludlow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,167Highest |
422Lowest |
730 |
808 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.3% VT: +2.8% |
— | -6.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.2±11.6 5% above VT |
40.7±6.5 6% below VT |
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% |
22%±4 VT: 17.9% |
24.1%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
13.1%±3.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Barton and Belvidere 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% |
8.8%±4Lowest 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% |
35.9% 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% |
1.4%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
1.9%±1.6 VT: 7% |
2.6%±1.6 VT: 7% |
| Brighton and Ludlow 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 |
$81,563±$18kHighest about the VT average |
$40,833±$8kLowest 50% below VT |
$56,667±$19k 30% below VT |
| Belvidere 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 |
$239,200±$51k 24% below VT |
$146,900±$30kLowest 54% below VT |
$304,000±$32kHighest 4% below VT |
| Ludlow and Belvidere are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $775±$33 37% below VT |
$1,542±$1kHighest 25% above VT |
$761±$150Lowest 38% below VT |
$1,018±$91 18% below VT |
| Belvidere 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 |
$3,908 22% below VT |
$3,185Lowest 37% below VT |
$4,237Highest 16% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55%±17 VT: 48.4% |
66.7%±53.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
58.8%±18.2 VT: 48.4% |
33%±13.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Belvidere and Barton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 22% VT: 10.1% |
5.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
25.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.7% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 51.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
86.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
52.7% VT: 73.2% |
51.4% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 9 yrs older than VT |
1989Highest 13 yrs newer than VT |
1945 31 yrs older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 41% above VT |
38 minHighest 60% above VT |
31 min 32% above VT |
21 minLowest 10% below VT |
| Work from home | 12.4%±8.1 VT: 16.9% |
9.4%±7.6Lowest 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 | — | — | #38 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Brighton School District | — | — | — |
| High school in town | None in town | — | — | — |
| 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.