Compare towns
Brighton vs Unity vs Barton vs Charleston
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 most renters (48.9% rent).
Unity has the highest household income ($88k).
Barton has the most kids (24.1% under 18).
Charleston has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.2%).
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 | Unity | Barton | Charleston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,167 |
1,375Highest |
730Lowest |
936 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
-9.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.2±11.6 16% above U.S. |
58±4.5 49% above U.S. |
40±5.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
58.4±9.3Highest 50% above U.S. |
| Charleston and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.3%±5.7 U.S.: 22% |
12%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
24.1%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.2%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
34.9%±7 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.2%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
37.7%±8.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Charleston and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 25.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
21.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
21.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
13.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Brighton and Charleston 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. |
$87,500±$16kHighest 8% above U.S. |
$40,833±$8kLowest 49% below U.S. |
$49,286±$17k 39% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $163,900±$39k 51% below U.S. |
$276,100±$29kHighest 17% below U.S. |
$146,900±$30kLowest 56% below U.S. |
$238,000±$53k 28% below U.S. |
| Unity and Charleston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $775±$33 45% below U.S. |
$1,625±$804Highest 15% above U.S. |
$761±$150Lowest 46% below U.S. |
$979±$444 31% below U.S. |
| Unity and Charleston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,360 8% above U.S. |
$5,394Highest 73% above U.S. |
$3,185Lowest about the U.S. average |
$3,750 20% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55%±17 U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
58.8%±18.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
32.7%±26.4Lowest 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% |
6.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
25.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 51.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
52.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1945Lowest 35 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 25% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 32% above U.S. |
31 min 18% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 12.4%±8.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.5%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.5%±10.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.7%±7.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Charleston 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 | Unity School District | — | Charleston School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 4 photos → | 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.