Compare towns
Brighton vs Wells River vs Morgan
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 oldest population (median age 45.2).
Wells River has the most renters (52.1% rent).
Morgan has the highest household income ($91k).
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 | Wells River | Morgan |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,167Highest |
340Lowest |
827 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.3%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— | -14.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.2±11.6Highest 5% above VT |
42.7±12.7 about the VT average |
40.9±6.4Lowest 5% below VT |
| Brighton and Wells River 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% |
17.1%±6.5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.5%±4.7Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Morgan 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% |
19.4%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
27.7%±6.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Morgan 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% |
16.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
34%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±2.4Highest VT: 7% |
0.6%±3.1Lowest VT: 7% |
1.3%±1 VT: 7% |
| Brighton and Morgan 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 |
$38,688±$5kLowest 52% below VT |
$91,250±$25kHighest 12% above VT |
| Morgan and Brighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $163,900±$39kLowest 48% below VT |
$170,800±$103k 46% below VT |
$311,300±$66kHighest about the VT average |
| Morgan and Wells River are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $775±$33Lowest 37% below VT |
$900±$336 27% below VT |
$1,112±$64Highest 10% below VT |
| Morgan and Wells River are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,360Lowest 33% below VT |
$4,154Highest 18% below VT |
$3,426 32% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55%±17Highest VT: 48.4% |
47.6%±14.8 VT: 48.4% |
0%±40.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Brighton and Wells River are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 22% VT: 10.1% |
38.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
10%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 51.1% VT: 73.2% |
47.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
84.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 9 yrs older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1973Highest 3 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 41% above VT |
34 minHighest 43% above VT |
27 minLowest 15% above VT |
| Work from home | 12.4%±8.1 VT: 16.9% |
5.2%±9.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.4%±6.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Morgan and Brighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Brighton School District | — | — |
| High school in town | None in town | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.