Compare towns
Brighton vs Williston vs Cornish 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 most renters (48.9% rent).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Cornish has the most homeowners (94.1%).
Barton has the most kids (24.1% under 18).
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 | Williston | Cornish | Barton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,167 |
10,144Highest |
1,816 |
730Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.2±11.6 16% above U.S. |
45.4±4.5 17% above U.S. |
54±8.3Highest 39% above U.S. |
40±5.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Cornish and Williston 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% |
20.5%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
14.4%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
24.1%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Barton and Williston 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% |
21%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.3%±4.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.2%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Cornish 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
21.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.4%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Williston 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. |
$106,967±$12kHighest 32% above U.S. |
$91,821±$2k 14% above U.S. |
$40,833±$8kLowest 49% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $163,900±$39k 51% below U.S. |
$475,800±$40kHighest 43% above U.S. |
$296,000±$69k 11% below U.S. |
$146,900±$30kLowest 56% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $775±$33 45% below U.S. |
$1,832±$130Highest 30% above U.S. |
$1,221±$227 14% below U.S. |
$761±$150Lowest 46% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,360 8% above U.S. |
$5,592 79% above U.S. |
$5,796Highest 86% above U.S. |
$3,185Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55%±17 U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±17.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
40.5%±38.1Lowest 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% |
4.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
25.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 51.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
52.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1945Lowest 35 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
24 min 8% below U.S. |
31 min 18% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.4%±8.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.5%±10.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Williston 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 | — | #11 of 70 in VT | — | #38 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Brighton School District | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Cornish School District | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.