Compare towns
Brighton vs Reading vs Barton vs Ludlow
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).
Reading has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.2%).
Barton has the most kids (24.1% under 18).
Ludlow has the shortest commute (21 min average).
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 | Reading | Barton | Ludlow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,167Highest |
699Lowest |
730 |
808 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.3% VT: +2.8% |
+3.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-6.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-4.7% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.2±11.6 5% above VT |
51.1±7.6Highest 19% above VT |
40±5.5Lowest 7% below VT |
48.7±5.6 13% above VT |
| Reading and Ludlow 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% |
18.5%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
24.1%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
13.1%±3.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Barton and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 27.2%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
28.2%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
21.2%±4.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
30.4%±0.5Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Ludlow and Reading 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% |
46%Highest VT: 43.8% |
21.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
39.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±2.4Highest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5 VT: 7% |
1.9%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
2.6%±1.6 VT: 7% |
| Brighton and Reading 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 42% below VT |
$85,000±$19kHighest 5% above VT |
$40,833±$8kLowest 50% below VT |
$56,667±$19k 30% below VT |
| Reading and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $163,900±$39k 48% below VT |
$377,200±$72kHighest 19% above VT |
$146,900±$30kLowest 54% below VT |
$304,000±$32k 4% below VT |
| Reading and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $775±$33 37% below VT |
$1,100±$331Highest 11% below VT |
$761±$150Lowest 38% below VT |
$1,018±$91 18% below VT |
| Reading and Ludlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,360 33% below VT |
$5,754Highest 14% above VT |
$3,185Lowest 37% below VT |
$4,237 16% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55%±17 VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
58.8%±18.2 VT: 48.4% |
33%±13.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Reading and Barton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 22% VT: 10.1% |
8.4%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
25.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.7% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 51.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
84.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
52.7% VT: 73.2% |
51.4% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 9 yrs older than VT |
1969Highest 7 yrs older than VT |
1945 31 yrs older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 41% above VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
31 min 32% above VT |
21 minLowest 10% below VT |
| Work from home | 12.4%±8.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.5%±10.4 VT: 16.9% |
17.3%±6.4 VT: 16.9% |
| Reading 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 | — | — | #38 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Brighton School District | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | — | — |
| 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.