What stands out worked out from the figures below

Brighton has the oldest population (median age 45.2).

Marlboro has grown the fastest since 2010 (+59.7%).

Marlboro is a college town. 42.7% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Brighton	Marlboro
People
Population	1,167Lowest	1,362Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-5.3%Lowest VT: +2.8%	+59.7%Highest VT: +2.8%
Median age	45.2±11.6Highest 5% above VT	22.7±2.1Lowest 47% below VT
Kids under 18	18.3%±5.7Highest VT: 17.9%	12%±3.2Lowest VT: 17.9%
	Brighton and Marlboro 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%	18.8%±3.7Lowest VT: 21.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	25.9%Lowest VT: 43.8%	53.7%Highest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.6%±2.4Lowest VT: 7%	42.7%±4.8Highest VT: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$47,375±$21kLowest 42% below VT	$77,135±$10kHighest 5% below VT
	Marlboro and Brighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$163,900±$39kLowest 48% below VT	$357,300±$55kHighest 13% above VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$775±$33Lowest 37% below VT	$1,600±$824Highest 30% above VT
	Marlboro and Brighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,360Lowest 33% below VT	$5,640Highest 12% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	55%±17Highest VT: 48.4%	39.1%±43.6Lowest VT: 48.4%
	Brighton and Marlboro 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%	7.9%Lowest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	51.1%Lowest VT: 73.2%	84.6%Highest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1967Lowest 9 yrs older than VT	1976Highest same as VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minHighest 41% above VT	17 minLowest 26% below VT
Work from home	12.4%±8.1Lowest VT: 16.9%	26%±11.2Highest VT: 16.9%
	Marlboro 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	Marlboro School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.