Compare towns
Brighton vs Madison 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).
Madison has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.5%).
Barton has the most people working from home (16.5%).
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 | Madison | Barton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,167 |
2,680Highest |
730Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.2±11.6 16% above U.S. |
50.3±9.7Highest 29% above U.S. |
40±5.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Madison and Brighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.3%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.1%±6.7 U.S.: 22% |
24.1%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Barton and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27.2%±4.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.1%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.2%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Brighton and Madison 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% |
37.9%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% |
1.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Brighton and Madison 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. |
$102,697±$11kHighest 27% above U.S. |
$40,833±$8kLowest 49% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $163,900±$39k 51% below U.S. |
$388,700±$36kHighest 17% above U.S. |
$146,900±$30kLowest 56% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $775±$33 45% below U.S. |
$1,556±$256Highest 10% above U.S. |
$761±$150Lowest 46% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,360 8% above U.S. |
$4,074Highest 31% above U.S. |
$3,185Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55%±17Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
69.2%±46Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
58.8%±18.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Madison and Barton 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% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
25.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 51.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
52.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1945Lowest 35 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 16% below U.S. |
31 min 18% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.4%±8.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
8%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.5%±10.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Barton and Brighton 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 | Madison 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.