Compare towns
Brighton vs Townsend vs Barton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Brighton has the oldest population (median age 45.2).
Townsend has the most expensive homes ($433k 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 | Townsend | Barton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,167 |
9,100Highest |
730Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.2±11.6Highest 16% above U.S. |
40.9±3.3 5% above U.S. |
40±5.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Brighton and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.3%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
24.1%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Barton and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27.2%±4.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.2%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
35.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
21.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Townsend 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 41% below U.S. |
$121,528±$23kHighest 51% above U.S. |
$40,833±$8kLowest 49% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $163,900±$39k 51% below U.S. |
$433,200±$22kHighest 30% above U.S. |
$146,900±$30kLowest 56% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $775±$33 45% below U.S. |
$1,469±$313Highest 4% above U.S. |
$761±$150Lowest 46% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,360 8% above U.S. |
$6,031Highest 93% above U.S. |
$3,185Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55%±17 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±16.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
58.8%±18.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Barton and Brighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 22% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
25.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 51.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
52.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1945Lowest 35 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 25% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
31 minLowest 18% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.4%±8.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.5%±10.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | — | #136 of 282 in MA | #38 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Brighton School District | North Middlesex | — |
| High school in town | None in town | North Middlesex Regional | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.1 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.