Compare towns
Brighton vs Benson vs Charleston
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).
Benson has the highest household income ($79k).
Charleston has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.2%).
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 | Benson | Charleston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,167Highest |
784Lowest |
936 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.3% VT: +2.8% |
-7.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.2±11.6Lowest 5% above VT |
51.9±9.4 20% above VT |
58.4±9.3Highest 35% above VT |
| Charleston and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.3%±5.7Highest VT: 17.9% |
16.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
11.2%±4.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Brighton and Benson 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% |
26.9%±4.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
37.7%±8.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
| 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% VT: 43.8% |
32.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
13.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±2.4 VT: 7% |
7%±5.8Highest VT: 7% |
3.7%±2.3Lowest VT: 7% |
| Benson and Brighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $47,375±$21kLowest 42% below VT |
$78,625±$8kHighest 3% below VT |
$49,286±$17k 39% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $163,900±$39kLowest 48% below VT |
$242,000±$26kHighest 24% below VT |
$238,000±$53k 25% below VT |
| Benson and Charleston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $775±$33Lowest 37% below VT |
$1,113±$170Highest 10% below VT |
$979±$444 21% below VT |
| Benson and Charleston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,360Lowest 33% below VT |
$4,125Highest 18% below VT |
$3,750 26% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55%±17Highest VT: 48.4% |
53.4%±35.2 VT: 48.4% |
32.7%±26.4Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Brighton and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 22%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.4%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
12.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 51.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
80.9% VT: 73.2% |
87.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Lowest 9 yrs older than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 41% above VT |
32 min 35% above VT |
26 minLowest 12% above VT |
| Work from home | 12.4%±8.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
18.6%±5.4 VT: 16.9% |
18.7%±7.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Charleston and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Brighton School District | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | 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 |
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.