Compare towns

Brighton vs Derby 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).
Derby has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.9%).
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.

MeasureBrightonDerbyBarton
People
Population
1,167
4,537Highest
730Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-5.3%
VT: +2.8%
-0.9%Highest
VT: +2.8%
-6.4%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
45.2±11.6
5% above VT
51.6±2.1Highest
20% above VT
40±5.5Lowest
7% below VT
Derby 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%
15.7%±3.6Lowest
VT: 17.9%
24.1%±5.4Highest
VT: 17.9%
Barton 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%
27.2%±4.2Highest
VT: 21.4%
21.2%±4.2Lowest
VT: 21.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
25.9%
VT: 43.8%
36.8%Highest
VT: 43.8%
21.7%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.6%±2.4Highest
VT: 7%
2.3%±1.1
VT: 7%
1.9%±1.6Lowest
VT: 7%
Brighton and Derby 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
$80,250±$8kHighest
about the VT average
$40,833±$8kLowest
50% below VT
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$163,900±$39k
48% below VT
$225,000±$10kHighest
29% below VT
$146,900±$30kLowest
54% below VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$775±$33
37% below VT
$1,096±$118Highest
11% below VT
$761±$150Lowest
38% below VT
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,360
33% below VT
$3,449Highest
32% below VT
$3,185Lowest
37% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
55%±17
VT: 48.4%
45.8%±18.5Lowest
VT: 48.4%
58.8%±18.2Highest
VT: 48.4%
Barton and Brighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
22%
VT: 10.1%
7.4%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
25.8%Highest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
51.1%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
84.7%Highest
VT: 73.2%
52.7%
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1967
9 yrs older than VT
1978Highest
2 yrs newer than VT
1945Lowest
31 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
33 minHighest
41% above VT
32 min
38% above VT
31 minLowest
32% above VT
Work from home
12.4%±8.1
VT: 16.9%
10.6%±3.5Lowest
VT: 16.9%
16.5%±10.4Highest
VT: 16.9%
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 — #52 of 70 in VT #38 of 70 in VT
School district Brighton School District Derby School District · North Country Union Junior High School District —
High school in town None in town None in town —
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.