Compare towns

Brighton vs Morgan vs Charleston

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).
Morgan has the highest household income ($91k).
Charleston has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.2%).

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.

MeasureBrightonMorganCharleston
People
Population
1,167Highest
827Lowest
936
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-5.3%
VT: +2.8%
-14.8%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
-0.2%Highest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
45.2±11.6
5% above VT
40.9±6.4Lowest
5% below VT
58.4±9.3Highest
35% above VT
Charleston 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%
21.5%±4.7Highest
VT: 17.9%
11.2%±4.2Lowest
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%
27.7%±6.6
VT: 21.4%
37.7%±8.6Highest
VT: 21.4%
Charleston and Morgan 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%
34%Highest
VT: 43.8%
13.6%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.6%±2.4Highest
VT: 7%
1.3%±1Lowest
VT: 7%
3.7%±2.3
VT: 7%
Brighton and Charleston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$47,375±$21kLowest
42% below VT
$91,250±$25kHighest
12% above VT
$49,286±$17k
39% below VT
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$163,900±$39kLowest
48% below VT
$311,300±$66kHighest
about the VT average
$238,000±$53k
25% below VT
Morgan and Charleston 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
$1,112±$64Highest
10% below VT
$979±$444
21% below VT
Morgan and Charleston 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
$3,426
32% below VT
$3,750Highest
26% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
55%±17Highest
VT: 48.4%
0%±40.8Lowest
VT: 48.4%
32.7%±26.4
VT: 48.4%
Brighton and Charleston 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%
10%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
12.3%
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
51.1%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
84.8%
VT: 73.2%
87.1%Highest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1967Lowest
9 yrs older than VT
1973
3 yrs older than VT
1980Highest
4 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
33 minHighest
41% above VT
27 min
15% above VT
26 minLowest
12% above VT
Work from home
12.4%±8.1Lowest
VT: 16.9%
22.4%±6.5Highest
VT: 16.9%
18.7%±7.1
VT: 16.9%
Morgan and Charleston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district Brighton School District — Charleston School District
High school in town None in town — None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story 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.