Compare towns
Brighton vs Ludlow vs Plainfield 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).
Ludlow has the oldest population (median age 48.7).
Plainfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4%).
Barton has the most affordable homes ($147k 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 | Ludlow | Plainfield | Barton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,167 |
808 |
2,522Highest |
730Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.2±11.6 16% above U.S. |
48.7±5.6Highest 25% above U.S. |
38.9±6.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
40±5.5 about the U.S. average |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
13.1%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.4%±5.8 U.S.: 22% |
24.1%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Barton and Plainfield 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% |
30.4%±0.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.2%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
39.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
46.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
21.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.6%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Plainfield and Brighton 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. |
$56,667±$19k 30% below U.S. |
$122,656±$13kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$40,833±$8kLowest 49% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $163,900±$39k 51% below U.S. |
$304,000±$32k 9% below U.S. |
$442,400±$47kHighest 33% above U.S. |
$146,900±$30kLowest 56% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $775±$33 45% below U.S. |
$1,018±$91 28% below U.S. |
$1,674±$181Highest 18% above U.S. |
$761±$150Lowest 46% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,360 8% above U.S. |
$4,237 36% above U.S. |
$7,904Highest 153% above U.S. |
$3,185Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55%±17 U.S.: 51.1% |
33%±13.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
31.8%±23.1Lowest 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% |
8.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
25.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 51.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
51.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
52.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1945 35 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 20% below U.S. |
22 min 17% below U.S. |
31 min 18% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.4%±8.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.3%±6.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±8.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.5%±10.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Plainfield 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 | — | — | #19 of 120 in NH | #38 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Brighton School District | — | Plainfield 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 |
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.