Compare towns
Brighton vs Cavendish vs Panton
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 affordable homes ($164k median).
Cavendish has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.8%).
Panton has the most expensive homes ($438k 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 | Cavendish | Panton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,167 |
1,242Highest |
690Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+1.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-4.6% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.2±11.6Highest 5% above VT |
45.2±5.9Highest 5% above VT |
42.7±3.8Lowest about the VT average |
| Kids under 18 | 18.3%±5.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.3%±4.8Lowest VT: 17.9% |
24.9%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Panton and Brighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27.2%±4.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
23.6%±2 VT: 21.4% |
16.7%±2.9Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Brighton and Cavendish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 25.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
39.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
35.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±2.4Highest VT: 7% |
4.3%±1.9 VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
| Brighton and Cavendish 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 |
$89,063±$29kHighest 10% above VT |
$86,667±$10k 7% above VT |
| Cavendish and Panton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $163,900±$39kLowest 48% below VT |
$285,100±$40k 10% below VT |
$438,000±$40kHighest 38% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $775±$33Lowest 37% below VT |
$1,000±$546 19% below VT |
$1,410±$130Highest 14% above VT |
| Panton and Cavendish 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 |
$3,948 22% below VT |
$6,695Highest 33% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55%±17 VT: 48.4% |
28.9%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
61%±39Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Panton and Brighton 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% |
6.3% VT: 10.1% |
3.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 51.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
81.3% VT: 73.2% |
83.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Lowest 9 yrs older than VT |
1968 8 yrs older than VT |
1974Highest 2 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 41% above VT |
19 minLowest 21% below VT |
26 min 11% above VT |
| Work from home | 12.4%±8.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
18.5%±6.6 VT: 16.9% |
26.7%±8.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Panton and Cavendish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Brighton School District | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 18 photos → | 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.