Compare towns
Brighton vs Ripton vs Wells River
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 kids (18.3% under 18).
Ripton has the highest household income ($113k).
Wells River has the most renters (52.1% rent).
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 | Ripton | Wells River |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,167Highest |
508 |
340Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 45.2±11.6 5% above VT |
47.7±14.2Highest 11% above VT |
42.7±12.7Lowest about the VT average |
| Ripton 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% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
17.1%±6.5 VT: 17.9% |
| Brighton and Wells River 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% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.4%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Brighton 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% |
48%Highest VT: 43.8% |
16.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±2.4 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
0.6%±3.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $47,375±$21k 42% below VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$38,688±$5kLowest 52% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $163,900±$39kLowest 48% below VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$170,800±$103k 46% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $775±$33Lowest 37% below VT |
— | $900±$336Highest 27% below VT |
| Wells River and Brighton 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 |
$4,915Highest about the VT average |
$4,154 18% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55%±17Highest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
47.6%±14.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Brighton and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 22% VT: 10.1% |
8.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
38.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 51.1% VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
47.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 9 yrs older than VT |
1973Highest 3 yrs older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 41% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
34 minHighest 43% above VT |
| Work from home | 12.4%±8.1 VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
5.2%±9.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Ripton and Brighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Brighton School District | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | — |
| 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.