Compare towns
Brighton vs Whiting vs Barton vs Orleans
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).
Whiting has the most expensive homes ($280k median).
Barton has the most people working from home (16.5%).
Orleans has the oldest housing (typical home built 1938).
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 | Whiting | Barton | Orleans |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,167Highest |
532Lowest |
730 |
809 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.3% VT: +2.8% |
— | -6.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-3.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.2±11.6Highest 5% above VT |
39.6±2.7Lowest 8% below VT |
40±5.5 7% below VT |
41.7±5.8 3% below VT |
| Brighton and Orleans 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% |
23.5%±6.9 VT: 17.9% |
24.1%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
17.9%±4.5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Barton and Whiting are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 27.2%±4.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
13%±5.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21.2%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
19.7%±3.2 VT: 21.4% |
| 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%Highest VT: 43.8% |
25.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
21.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
24.8% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±2.4 VT: 7% |
6.2%±4Highest VT: 7% |
1.9%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
3.7%±2.1 VT: 7% |
| Whiting 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 42% below VT |
$91,250±$38kHighest 12% above VT |
$40,833±$8kLowest 50% below VT |
$57,159±$10k 30% below VT |
| Whiting and Orleans 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 |
$280,400±$36kHighest 11% below VT |
$146,900±$30kLowest 54% below VT |
$156,300±$18k 51% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $775±$33 37% below VT |
$1,204±$519Highest about the VT average |
$761±$150Lowest 38% below VT |
$810±$94 34% below VT |
| Whiting and Orleans are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,360 33% below VT |
$4,227Highest 16% below VT |
$3,185 37% below VT |
$3,019Lowest 40% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55%±17 VT: 48.4% |
58.3%±37.3 VT: 48.4% |
58.8%±18.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
27.3%±17.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Barton and Whiting are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 22% VT: 10.1% |
11.5% VT: 10.1% |
25.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 51.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
65.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
52.7% VT: 73.2% |
64.1% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 9 yrs older than VT |
1975Highest 1 yr older than VT |
1945 31 yrs older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 41% above VT |
22 minLowest 7% below VT |
31 min 32% above VT |
31 min 33% above VT |
| Work from home | 12.4%±8.1 VT: 16.9% |
10%±5.4 VT: 16.9% |
16.5%±10.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
8.3%±3.7Lowest 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 | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 | — | — |
| 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.