Compare towns
Brighton vs Halifax vs Orleans
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%).
Orleans has the most affordable homes ($156k median).
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 | Orleans |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,167Highest |
847 |
809Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.7% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.2±11.6Highest 5% above VT |
40.6±13.1Lowest 6% below VT |
41.7±5.8 3% below VT |
| Brighton and Orleans 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% |
17.9%±4.5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Halifax 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% |
22.6%±7.2 VT: 21.4% |
19.7%±3.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Brighton and Halifax 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% |
24.8%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±2.4Highest VT: 7% |
1.2%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
3.7%±2.1 VT: 7% |
| Brighton and Orleans 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 |
$63,889±$7kHighest 21% below VT |
$57,159±$10k 30% below VT |
| Halifax and Orleans 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±$21kHighest 16% below VT |
$156,300±$18kLowest 51% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $775±$33Lowest 37% below VT |
$875±$154Highest 29% below VT |
$810±$94 34% below VT |
| Halifax and Orleans 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 |
$3,019Lowest 40% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55%±17 VT: 48.4% |
57.1%±73.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
27.3%±17.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Halifax and Brighton 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%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 51.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
86.6%Highest VT: 73.2% |
64.1% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 9 yrs older than VT |
1968Highest 8 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 minLowest 33% above VT |
| Work from home | 12.4%±8.1 VT: 16.9% |
29.9%±11.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
8.3%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Halifax 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 | 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 |
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.