Compare towns

Brighton vs Eden vs Charleston

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).
Eden has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.1%).
Charleston has the most people working from home (18.7%).

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.

MeasureBrightonEdenCharleston
People
Population
1,167
1,351Highest
936Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-5.3%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
+1.1%Highest
VT: +2.8%
-0.2%
VT: +2.8%
Median age
45.2±11.6
5% above VT
37.7±1.9Lowest
13% below VT
58.4±9.3Highest
35% above VT
Charleston 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%
20.4%±4.3Highest
VT: 17.9%
11.2%±4.2Lowest
VT: 17.9%
Eden and Brighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
27.2%±4.6
VT: 21.4%
11.6%±3.2Lowest
VT: 21.4%
37.7%±8.6Highest
VT: 21.4%
Charleston 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%Highest
VT: 43.8%
17.4%
VT: 43.8%
13.6%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.6%±2.4Highest
VT: 7%
4.1%±3.8
VT: 7%
3.7%±2.3Lowest
VT: 7%
Brighton and Eden 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
$83,578±$8kHighest
about the VT average
$49,286±$17k
39% below VT
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$163,900±$39kLowest
48% below VT
$215,900±$27k
32% below VT
$238,000±$53kHighest
25% below VT
Charleston and Eden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$775±$33Lowest
37% below VT
$1,300±$441Highest
5% above VT
$979±$444
21% below VT
Eden and Charleston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,360
33% below VT
$3,313Lowest
34% below VT
$3,750Highest
26% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
55%±17Highest
VT: 48.4%
34.3%±39
VT: 48.4%
32.7%±26.4Lowest
VT: 48.4%
Brighton and Eden 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%
6.1%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
12.3%
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
51.1%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
77.4%
VT: 73.2%
87.1%Highest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1967Lowest
9 yrs older than VT
1991Highest
15 yrs newer than VT
1980
4 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
33 min
41% above VT
38 minHighest
63% above VT
26 minLowest
12% above VT
Work from home
12.4%±8.1
VT: 16.9%
5.6%±4Lowest
VT: 16.9%
18.7%±7.1Highest
VT: 16.9%
Charleston and Brighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district Brighton School District Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A Charleston 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

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.