Compare towns
Brighton vs Castleton vs Charleston vs Barton
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).
Castleton has the highest household income ($74k).
Charleston has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.2%).
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 | Castleton | Charleston | Barton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,167 |
4,453Highest |
936 |
730Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.3% VT: +2.8% |
-5.5% VT: +2.8% |
-0.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-6.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.2±11.6 5% above VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
58.4±9.3Highest 35% above VT |
40±5.5 7% below VT |
| Charleston 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% |
18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
11.2%±4.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
24.1%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Barton and Castleton 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% |
20.7%±4.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
37.7%±8.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.2%±4.2 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% |
37.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
13.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
21.7% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±2.4 VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
3.7%±2.3 VT: 7% |
1.9%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $47,375±$21k 42% below VT |
$73,854±$23kHighest 9% below VT |
$49,286±$17k 39% below VT |
$40,833±$8kLowest 50% below VT |
| Castleton 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 48% below VT |
$224,800±$71k 29% below VT |
$238,000±$53kHighest 25% below VT |
$146,900±$30kLowest 54% below VT |
| Charleston and Castleton 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 |
$1,137±$195Highest 8% below VT |
$979±$444 21% below VT |
$761±$150Lowest 38% below VT |
| Castleton and Charleston 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 |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$3,750Highest 26% below VT |
$3,185 37% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55%±17 VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
32.7%±26.4Lowest VT: 48.4% |
58.8%±18.2 VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton 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% |
12.5% VT: 10.1% |
12.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
25.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 51.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
79% VT: 73.2% |
87.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
52.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 9 yrs older than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1945Lowest 31 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 41% above VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
26 min 12% above VT |
31 min 32% above VT |
| Work from home | 12.4%±8.1 VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
18.7%±7.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.5%±10.4 VT: 16.9% |
| 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 | — | #39 of 70 in VT | — | #38 of 70 in VT |
| 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 | 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.