Compare towns
Brighton vs Cornwall vs Strafford 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).
Cornwall has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.9%).
Strafford has the shortest commute (23 min average).
Barton has the youngest population (median age 40).
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 | Cornwall | Strafford | Barton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,167 |
1,208 |
1,372Highest |
730Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.3% VT: +2.8% |
+1.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.4% VT: +2.8% |
-6.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.2±11.6 5% above VT |
50.4±4.6 17% above VT |
51.4±4.7Highest 19% above VT |
40±5.5Lowest 7% below VT |
| Strafford and Cornwall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.3%±5.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.7%±3 VT: 17.9% |
23%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
24.1%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Barton and Strafford 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% |
25.7%±6.1 VT: 21.4% |
22.1%±3.4 VT: 21.4% |
21.2%±4.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Brighton and Cornwall 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% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
53.3% VT: 43.8% |
21.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±2.4 VT: 7% |
3.7%±3.1 VT: 7% |
5.1%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
1.9%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
| Strafford 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±$21k 42% below VT |
$114,583±$32kHighest 41% above VT |
$110,833±$19k 36% above VT |
$40,833±$8kLowest 50% below VT |
| Cornwall and Strafford 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 |
$458,000±$49kHighest 45% above VT |
$431,300±$40k 36% above VT |
$146,900±$30kLowest 54% below VT |
| Cornwall and Strafford 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 |
$1,125±$206Highest 9% below VT |
$1,125±$789Highest 9% below VT |
$761±$150Lowest 38% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,360 33% below VT |
$6,726 33% above VT |
$7,149Highest 42% above VT |
$3,185Lowest 37% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55%±17 VT: 48.4% |
61.9%±65.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±48Lowest VT: 48.4% |
58.8%±18.2 VT: 48.4% |
| Cornwall 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% |
0.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
5.2% VT: 10.1% |
25.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 51.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
94.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
88.9% VT: 73.2% |
52.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 9 yrs older than VT |
1976 same as VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1945Lowest 31 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 41% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
23 minLowest about the VT average |
31 min 32% above VT |
| Work from home | 12.4%±8.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
24.4%±6.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
16.5%±10.4 VT: 16.9% |
| Cornwall 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 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Strafford 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.