Compare towns
Brighton vs Hancock vs Barton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Brighton has the most renters (48.9% rent).
Hancock has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.7%).
Barton has the most kids (24.1% under 18).
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 | Hancock | Barton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,167 |
1,791Highest |
730Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.2±11.6 16% above U.S. |
53.8±4.5Highest 38% above U.S. |
40±5.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Hancock 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 U.S.: 22% |
15.4%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
24.1%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Barton and Brighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27.2%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.2%±2.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.2%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hancock 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
53.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
21.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Brighton and Hancock 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 41% below U.S. |
$95,208±$15kHighest 18% above U.S. |
$40,833±$8kLowest 49% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $163,900±$39k 51% below U.S. |
$436,700±$22kHighest 31% above U.S. |
$146,900±$30kLowest 56% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $775±$33 45% below U.S. |
$1,208±$650Highest 15% below U.S. |
$761±$150Lowest 46% below U.S. |
| Hancock and Brighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,360 8% above U.S. |
$6,884Highest 121% above U.S. |
$3,185Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55%±17 U.S.: 51.1% |
32.4%±55.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
58.8%±18.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Barton and Brighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 22% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
25.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 51.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
52.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1969Highest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1945Lowest 35 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
31 minLowest 18% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.4%±8.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.9%±3.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.5%±10.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Barton and Hancock 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 | Contoocook Valley School District | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.