Compare towns
Brighton vs Ripton vs Whiting 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).
Ripton has the most expensive homes ($394k median).
Whiting has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Barton has the most affordable homes ($147k median).
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 | Whiting | Barton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,167Highest |
508Lowest |
532 |
730 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.3% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— | -6.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.2±11.6 5% above VT |
47.7±14.2Highest 11% above VT |
39.6±2.7Lowest 8% below VT |
40±5.5 7% below VT |
| 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%±5.7 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23.5%±6.9 VT: 17.9% |
24.1%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Barton and Whiting 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% |
13%±5.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21.2%±4.2 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% |
25.9% VT: 43.8% |
21.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±2.4 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
6.2%±4 VT: 7% |
1.9%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $47,375±$21k 42% below VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$91,250±$38k 12% above VT |
$40,833±$8kLowest 50% below VT |
| Ripton and Whiting 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 |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$280,400±$36k 11% below VT |
$146,900±$30kLowest 54% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $775±$33 37% below VT |
— | $1,204±$519Highest about the VT average |
$761±$150Lowest 38% below VT |
| Whiting 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 |
$4,915Highest about the VT average |
$4,227 16% below VT |
$3,185Lowest 37% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55%±17 VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
58.3%±37.3 VT: 48.4% |
58.8%±18.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Barton and Whiting 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% |
11.5% VT: 10.1% |
25.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 51.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
65.4% VT: 73.2% |
52.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 9 yrs older than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1975Highest 1 yr older than VT |
1945Lowest 31 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 41% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
22 minLowest 7% below VT |
31 min 32% above VT |
| Work from home | 12.4%±8.1 VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
10%±5.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
16.5%±10.4 VT: 16.9% |
| Ripton and Barton 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 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 | — |
| 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.