Compare towns
Brighton vs Sutton vs Ira 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).
Ira has the most expensive homes ($273k median).
Barton has the most people working from home (16.5%).
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 | Sutton | Ira | Barton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,167Highest |
790 |
381Lowest |
730 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.3%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-11.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— | -6.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.2±11.6 5% above VT |
46.6±5.7 8% above VT |
54.1±5.5Highest 26% above VT |
40±5.5Lowest 7% below VT |
| Ira and Sutton 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% |
17.3%±3.4 VT: 17.9% |
10.5%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
24.1%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Barton 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% |
21.6%±2.7 VT: 21.4% |
28.9%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.2%±4.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Ira 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% |
32.8% VT: 43.8% |
37.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
21.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±2.4Highest VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.8 VT: 7% |
3.4%±3.5 VT: 7% |
1.9%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
| Brighton and Ira 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 |
$71,250±$18k 12% below VT |
$71,827±$5kHighest 12% below VT |
$40,833±$8kLowest 50% below VT |
| Ira and Sutton 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 |
$231,100±$41k 27% below VT |
$272,900±$18kHighest 14% below VT |
$146,900±$30kLowest 54% below VT |
| Ira and Sutton 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 |
— | $942±$52Highest 24% below VT |
$761±$150Lowest 38% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,360 33% below VT |
$3,975 21% below VT |
$4,146Highest 18% below VT |
$3,185Lowest 37% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55%±17 VT: 48.4% |
37.8%±31.1 VT: 48.4% |
36.4%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
58.8%±18.2Highest 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% |
12.4%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
14.4% VT: 10.1% |
25.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 51.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
85% VT: 73.2% |
90.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
52.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 9 yrs older than VT |
1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
1945Lowest 31 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 41% above VT |
30 min 26% above VT |
28 minLowest 20% above VT |
31 min 32% above VT |
| Work from home | 12.4%±8.1 VT: 16.9% |
11.6%±5.3 VT: 16.9% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
16.5%±10.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Barton and Brighton 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 | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 | — | — |
| 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.