Compare towns
Brighton vs Reading 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).
Reading has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.2%).
Morgan has the shortest commute (27 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 | Morgan |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,167Highest |
699Lowest |
827 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.3% VT: +2.8% |
+3.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-14.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.2±11.6 5% above VT |
51.1±7.6Highest 19% above VT |
40.9±6.4Lowest 5% below VT |
| Reading 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 VT: 17.9% |
18.5%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
21.5%±4.7Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Morgan and Reading 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% |
28.2%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
27.7%±6.6 VT: 21.4% |
| Reading 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%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
46%Highest VT: 43.8% |
34% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±2.4Highest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5 VT: 7% |
1.3%±1Lowest 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±$21kLowest 42% below VT |
$85,000±$19k 5% above VT |
$91,250±$25kHighest 12% above VT |
| Morgan and Reading 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 |
$377,200±$72kHighest 19% above VT |
$311,300±$66k about the VT average |
| Reading and Morgan 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 |
$1,100±$331 11% below VT |
$1,112±$64Highest 10% below VT |
| Morgan and Reading 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 |
$5,754Highest 14% above VT |
$3,426 32% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55%±17 VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±40.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Reading 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% |
8.4%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
10% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 51.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
84.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
84.8% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Lowest 9 yrs older than VT |
1969 7 yrs older than VT |
1973Highest 3 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 41% above VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
27 minLowest 15% above VT |
| Work from home | 12.4%±8.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
22.4%±6.5 VT: 16.9% |
| Reading 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 | 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 |
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.