Compare towns
Brighton vs Hardwick vs Barton vs Morgan
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).
Hardwick has grown the fastest since 2010 (-3%).
Barton has the most kids (24.1% under 18).
Morgan has the most expensive homes ($311k 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 | Hardwick | Barton | Morgan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,167 |
2,965Highest |
730Lowest |
827 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.3% VT: +2.8% |
-3%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-6.4% VT: +2.8% |
-14.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.2±11.6 5% above VT |
47.1±7.4Highest 9% above VT |
40±5.5Lowest 7% below VT |
40.9±6.4 5% below VT |
| Hardwick 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% |
15.8%±4.4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
24.1%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
21.5%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
| Barton and Morgan 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% |
27%±5.9 VT: 21.4% |
21.2%±4.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
27.7%±6.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Morgan 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% |
33.7% VT: 43.8% |
21.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
34%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±2.4Highest VT: 7% |
2.4%±2.4 VT: 7% |
1.9%±1.6 VT: 7% |
1.3%±1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Brighton and Hardwick 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 |
$92,297±$17kHighest 14% above VT |
$40,833±$8kLowest 50% below VT |
$91,250±$25k 12% above VT |
| Hardwick and Morgan 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 |
$184,700±$39k 42% below VT |
$146,900±$30kLowest 54% below VT |
$311,300±$66kHighest about the VT average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $775±$33 37% below VT |
$875±$406 29% below VT |
$761±$150Lowest 38% below VT |
$1,112±$64Highest 10% below VT |
| Morgan and Hardwick 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 |
$4,351Highest 14% below VT |
$3,185Lowest 37% below VT |
$3,426 32% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55%±17 VT: 48.4% |
48.6%±41.3 VT: 48.4% |
58.8%±18.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±40.8Lowest 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% |
9.7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
25.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
10% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 51.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
76.4% VT: 73.2% |
52.7% VT: 73.2% |
84.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 9 yrs older than VT |
1962 14 yrs older than VT |
1945Lowest 31 yrs older than VT |
1973Highest 3 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 41% above VT |
29 min 23% above VT |
31 min 32% above VT |
27 minLowest 15% above VT |
| Work from home | 12.4%±8.1 VT: 16.9% |
11.8%±6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
16.5%±10.4 VT: 16.9% |
22.4%±6.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Morgan and Barton 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 | — | #68 of 70 in VT | #38 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Brighton School District | Mountain View Union Elementary School District #94 · Hazen Union High School District #26 | — | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Hazen Union High School | — | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.6 |
— | — |
| 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.