Compare towns
Brighton vs Reading vs Ripton vs Orleans
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%).
Orleans has the youngest population (median age 41.7).
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 | Orleans |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,167Highest |
699 |
508Lowest |
809 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.2% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.7% 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 |
41.7±5.8Lowest 3% 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%±4.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
17.9%±4.5 VT: 17.9% |
| Reading and Brighton 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% |
19.7%±3.2Lowest 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% |
24.8%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±2.4 VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
3.7%±2.1 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $47,375±$21kLowest 42% below VT |
$85,000±$19k 5% above VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$57,159±$10k 30% 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 |
$156,300±$18kLowest 51% 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±$33Lowest 37% below VT |
$1,100±$331Highest 11% below VT |
— | $810±$94 34% below VT |
| Reading and Orleans 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 |
$3,019Lowest 40% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55%±17 VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
27.3%±17.2Lowest 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% VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
8.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 51.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
84.9% VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
64.1% 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 |
1938Lowest 38 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 33% above VT |
| Work from home | 12.4%±8.1 VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
8.3%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Reading and Ripton 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 | 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.