Compare towns
Brighton vs Sheldon vs Barton vs Morrisville
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).
Sheldon has the most homeowners (89%).
Barton has the most people working from home (16.5%).
Morrisville has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.5%).
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 | Sheldon | Barton | Morrisville |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,167 |
2,267 |
730Lowest |
2,664Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.3% VT: +2.8% |
-2.5% VT: +2.8% |
-6.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+6.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.2±11.6 5% above VT |
40.9±3.5 5% below VT |
40±5.5Lowest 7% below VT |
45.3±6Highest 5% above VT |
| Morrisville 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% |
23.7%±3.6 VT: 17.9% |
24.1%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.1%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Barton and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 27.2%±4.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21.2%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
20.9%±3.9 VT: 21.4% |
| Brighton and Barton 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% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
21.7% VT: 43.8% |
32.8%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±2.4 VT: 7% |
2%±1.3 VT: 7% |
1.9%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
10.6%±5.5Highest VT: 7% |
| Morrisville and Brighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $47,375±$21k 42% below VT |
$78,533±$25kHighest 3% below VT |
$40,833±$8kLowest 50% below VT |
$68,240±$15k 16% below VT |
| Sheldon and Morrisville 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 |
$272,400±$61k 14% below VT |
$146,900±$30kLowest 54% below VT |
$276,300±$20kHighest 13% below VT |
| Morrisville and Sheldon 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 |
$1,286±$379 4% above VT |
$761±$150Lowest 38% below VT |
$1,289±$116Highest 4% above VT |
| Morrisville and Sheldon 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 |
$3,578 29% below VT |
$3,185Lowest 37% below VT |
$4,542Highest 10% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55%±17 VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
58.8%±18.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
49.5%±15.1 VT: 48.4% |
| Barton and Brighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 22% VT: 10.1% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
25.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
17.8% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 51.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
89%Highest VT: 73.2% |
52.7% VT: 73.2% |
52.5% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 9 yrs older than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1945Lowest 31 yrs older than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 41% above VT |
25 min 7% above VT |
31 min 32% above VT |
22 minLowest 5% below VT |
| Work from home | 12.4%±8.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
16.5%±10.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.9%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
| Barton and Sheldon 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 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | — | — |
| High school 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.