Compare towns
Brighton vs Castleton vs Cornish 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).
Castleton has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Cornish has grown the fastest since 2010 (-1.5%).
Barton has the most people working from home (16.5%).
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 | Cornish | Barton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,167 |
4,453Highest |
1,816 |
730Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.2±11.6 16% above U.S. |
38.3±4.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
54±8.3Highest 39% above U.S. |
40±5.5 about the U.S. average |
| Cornish 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 U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±6.4 U.S.: 22% |
14.4%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
24.1%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.3%±4.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.2%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Cornish 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% |
37.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
40.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
21.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
19.3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.4%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $47,375±$21k 41% below U.S. |
$73,854±$23k 9% below U.S. |
$91,821±$2kHighest 14% above U.S. |
$40,833±$8kLowest 49% below U.S. |
| Cornish and Castleton 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. |
$224,800±$71k 32% below U.S. |
$296,000±$69kHighest 11% below U.S. |
$146,900±$30kLowest 56% below U.S. |
| Cornish and Castleton 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. |
$1,137±$195 20% below U.S. |
$1,221±$227Highest 14% below U.S. |
$761±$150Lowest 46% below U.S. |
| Cornish and Castleton 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. |
$3,167Lowest about the U.S. average |
$5,796Highest 86% above U.S. |
$3,185 about the U.S. average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55%±17 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.7%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40.5%±38.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
58.8%±18.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Castleton 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% |
12.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
25.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 51.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
52.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1945Lowest 35 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
24 min 8% below U.S. |
31 min 18% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.4%±8.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
12%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.5%±10.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Barton and Brighton 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 | Cornish 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.