What stands out worked out from the figures below

Brighton has the most kids (18.3% under 18).

Readsboro has the most homeowners (76.4%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Brighton	Readsboro
People
Population	1,167Highest	807Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-5.3%Highest VT: +2.8%	-8%Lowest VT: +2.8%
Median age	45.2±11.6Lowest 5% above VT	50.7±3.9Highest 18% above VT
	Readsboro and Brighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18.3%±5.7Highest VT: 17.9%	6.9%±2.6Lowest VT: 17.9%
Age 65+	27.2%±4.6Highest VT: 21.4%	20.6%±4.4Lowest VT: 21.4%
	Brighton and Readsboro 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%	26.7%Highest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.6%±2.4Highest VT: 7%	3.3%±1.8Lowest VT: 7%
	Brighton and Readsboro 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	$55,268±$12kHighest 32% below VT
	Readsboro and Brighton 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	$215,500±$52kHighest 32% below VT
	Readsboro and Brighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$775±$33Highest 37% below VT	$724±$32Lowest 41% below VT
	Brighton and Readsboro 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	$3,480Highest 31% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	55%±17Highest VT: 48.4%	17.4%±24.3Lowest VT: 48.4%
	Brighton and Readsboro 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%	7.3%Lowest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	51.1%Lowest VT: 73.2%	76.4%Highest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1967Lowest 9 yrs older than VT	1972Highest 4 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minHighest 41% above VT	32 minLowest 35% above VT
Work from home	12.4%±8.1Highest VT: 16.9%	7.8%±3.1Lowest VT: 16.9%
	Brighton and Readsboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Brighton School District	Readsboro School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.