Compare towns
Brighton vs Halifax vs Barton vs Ludlow
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).
Halifax has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.9%).
Barton has the most affordable homes ($147k median).
Ludlow has the shortest commute (21 min average).
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 | Halifax | Barton | Ludlow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,167Highest |
847 |
730Lowest |
808 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.3% VT: +2.8% |
+5.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-6.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-4.7% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.2±11.6 5% above VT |
40.6±13.1 6% below VT |
40±5.5Lowest 7% below VT |
48.7±5.6Highest 13% above VT |
| Ludlow 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% |
25.4%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
24.1%±5.4 VT: 17.9% |
13.1%±3.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Halifax and Barton 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% |
22.6%±7.2 VT: 21.4% |
21.2%±4.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
30.4%±0.5Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Ludlow 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% VT: 43.8% |
44.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
21.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
39.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±2.4Highest VT: 7% |
1.2%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
1.9%±1.6 VT: 7% |
2.6%±1.6 VT: 7% |
| Brighton and Ludlow 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 |
$63,889±$7kHighest 21% below VT |
$40,833±$8kLowest 50% below VT |
$56,667±$19k 30% below VT |
| Halifax and Ludlow 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 |
$267,500±$21k 16% below VT |
$146,900±$30kLowest 54% below VT |
$304,000±$32kHighest 4% below VT |
| Ludlow and Halifax 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 |
$875±$154 29% below VT |
$761±$150Lowest 38% below VT |
$1,018±$91Highest 18% below VT |
| Ludlow and Halifax 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 |
$4,991Highest about the VT average |
$3,185Lowest 37% below VT |
$4,237 16% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55%±17 VT: 48.4% |
57.1%±73.8 VT: 48.4% |
58.8%±18.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
33%±13.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Barton and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 22% VT: 10.1% |
6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
25.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.7% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 51.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
86.6%Highest VT: 73.2% |
52.7% VT: 73.2% |
51.4% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 9 yrs older than VT |
1968Highest 8 yrs older than VT |
1945 31 yrs older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 41% above VT |
33 min 38% above VT |
31 min 32% above VT |
21 minLowest 10% below VT |
| Work from home | 12.4%±8.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
29.9%±11.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.5%±10.4 VT: 16.9% |
17.3%±6.4 VT: 16.9% |
| Halifax and Ludlow 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 | Halifax School District | — | — |
| High school 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.