Compare towns
Brighton vs Reading vs Ripton vs Barton
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 the most people working from home (22.9%).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Barton has the most kids (24.1% 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 | Reading | Ripton | Barton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,167Highest |
699 |
508Lowest |
730 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.3% VT: +2.8% |
+3.2% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-6.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.2±11.6 5% above VT |
51.1±7.6Highest 19% above VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
40±5.5Lowest 7% below VT |
| Reading 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% |
18.5%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
24.1%±5.4Highest 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% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.2%±4.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton 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% VT: 43.8% |
48%Highest VT: 43.8% |
21.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±2.4 VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
1.9%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $47,375±$21k 42% below VT |
$85,000±$19k 5% above VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$40,833±$8kLowest 50% below VT |
| Ripton 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±$39k 48% below VT |
$377,200±$72k 19% above VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$146,900±$30kLowest 54% below VT |
| Ripton and Reading 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 |
| Reading and Brighton 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 |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$3,185Lowest 37% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55%±17 VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
58.8%±18.2 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% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
25.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 51.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
84.9% VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
52.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 9 yrs older than VT |
1969 7 yrs older than VT |
1973Highest 3 yrs older than VT |
1945Lowest 31 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 41% above VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
31 min 32% above VT |
| Work from home | 12.4%±8.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
16.5%±10.4 VT: 16.9% |
| Reading and Ripton 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 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | — |
| High school in town | None 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.