Compare towns
Brighton vs Mendon vs Ripton 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 affordable homes ($164k median).
Mendon has the shortest commute (17 min average).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Morgan has the most kids (21.5% 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 | Mendon | Ripton | Morgan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,167Highest |
1,113 |
508Lowest |
827 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.3% VT: +2.8% |
+8.5% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-14.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.2±11.6 5% above VT |
53.4±10.5Highest 24% above VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
40.9±6.4Lowest 5% below VT |
| Mendon and Ripton 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% |
14.6%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.5%±4.7Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Morgan and Brighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 27.2%±4.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29%±1.3 VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
27.7%±6.6 VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 25.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
49.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48% VT: 43.8% |
34% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±2.4 VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
1.3%±1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $47,375±$21kLowest 42% below VT |
$100,524±$23k 24% above VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$91,250±$25k 12% above VT |
| Ripton and Mendon 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 |
$357,000±$44k 13% above VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$311,300±$66k about the VT average |
| Ripton and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $775±$33Lowest 37% below VT |
$1,230±$651Highest about the VT average |
— | $1,112±$64 10% below VT |
| Mendon and Morgan 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 |
$5,342Highest 6% above VT |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$3,426 32% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55%±17 VT: 48.4% |
88.6%±42.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
0%±40.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Mendon and Brighton 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% |
8.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
10% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 51.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
90.9% VT: 73.2% |
84.8% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Lowest 9 yrs older than VT |
1977Highest 1 yr newer than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 41% above VT |
17 minLowest 28% below VT |
24 min about the VT average |
27 min 15% above VT |
| Work from home | 12.4%±8.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.5%±8.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
22.4%±6.5 VT: 16.9% |
| Mendon and Morgan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Brighton School District | — | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town | — |
| 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.