Compare towns
Brighton vs Colrain vs Barton vs Morgan
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).
Colrain has grown the fastest since 2010 (-3.9%).
Barton has the most kids (24.1% under 18).
Morgan has the most people working from home (22.4%).
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 | Colrain | Barton | Morgan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,167 |
1,627Highest |
730Lowest |
827 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-14.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.2±11.6 16% above U.S. |
49.6±8.7Highest 28% above U.S. |
40±5.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
40.9±6.4 5% above U.S. |
| Colrain 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% |
15.3%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
24.1%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.5%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Barton and Morgan 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% |
30.4%±4.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.2%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.7%±6.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Colrain and Morgan 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% |
37.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
21.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
34% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Brighton and Colrain 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 41% below U.S. |
$80,673±$10k about the U.S. average |
$40,833±$8kLowest 49% below U.S. |
$91,250±$25kHighest 13% above U.S. |
| Morgan and Colrain 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. |
$284,300±$14k 15% below U.S. |
$146,900±$30kLowest 56% below U.S. |
$311,300±$66kHighest 6% below U.S. |
| Morgan and Colrain 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. |
$1,102±$77 22% below U.S. |
$761±$150Lowest 46% below U.S. |
$1,112±$64Highest 21% below U.S. |
| Morgan and Colrain 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. |
$4,317Highest 38% above U.S. |
$3,185Lowest about the U.S. average |
$3,426 10% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55%±17 U.S.: 51.1% |
46%±22.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
58.8%±18.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±40.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Barton and Brighton 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% |
7.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
25.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
10% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 51.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
52.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1945Lowest 35 yrs older than U.S. |
1973Highest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 25% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
31 min 18% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 12.4%±8.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.4%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.5%±10.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.4%±6.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Morgan 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 | Mohawk Trail | — | — |
| High school 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.