Compare towns
Brighton vs White River Junction vs Charleston
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 affordable homes ($164k median).
White River Junction has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.8%).
Charleston has the most homeowners (87.1%).
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 | White River Junction | Charleston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,167 |
3,364Highest |
936Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+10.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.2% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.2±11.6 5% above VT |
33.7±3.2Lowest 22% below VT |
58.4±9.3Highest 35% above VT |
| Charleston and Brighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.3%±5.7Highest VT: 17.9% |
17.1%±5 VT: 17.9% |
11.2%±4.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Brighton and White River Junction 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% |
12.5%±3.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
37.7%±8.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Charleston 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% |
38.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
13.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±2.4Highest VT: 7% |
1.2%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
3.7%±2.3 VT: 7% |
| 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±$21kLowest 42% below VT |
$77,168±$4kHighest 5% below VT |
$49,286±$17k 39% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $163,900±$39kLowest 48% below VT |
$278,800±$78kHighest 12% below VT |
$238,000±$53k 25% below VT |
| White River Junction and Charleston 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 |
$1,222±$216Highest about the VT average |
$979±$444 21% below VT |
| White River Junction and Charleston 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 |
$5,651Highest 12% above VT |
$3,750 26% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55%±17Highest VT: 48.4% |
42.9%±17.3 VT: 48.4% |
32.7%±26.4Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Brighton and White River Junction are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 22%Highest VT: 10.1% |
12.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
12.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 51.1% VT: 73.2% |
43.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
87.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 9 yrs older than VT |
1963Lowest 13 yrs older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 41% above VT |
15 minLowest 35% below VT |
26 min 12% above VT |
| Work from home | 12.4%±8.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
15.7%±5.8 VT: 16.9% |
18.7%±7.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Charleston and White River Junction are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Brighton School District | — | Charleston School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.