Compare towns
Charleston vs Jay vs Brighton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Charleston has the shortest commute (26 min average).
Jay has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
Brighton has the most renters (48.9% rent).
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 | Charleston | Jay | Brighton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 936 |
471Lowest |
1,167Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.2% VT: +2.8% |
+5.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-5.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 58.4±9.3Highest 35% above VT |
52.1±10.5 21% above VT |
45.2±11.6Lowest 5% above VT |
| Charleston and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 11.2%±4.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
14.2%±7.3 VT: 17.9% |
18.3%±5.7Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Brighton and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 37.7%±8.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
15.5%±6.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
27.2%±4.6 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+ | 13.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
45.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
25.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.3 VT: 7% |
1.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
4.6%±2.4Highest 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 | $49,286±$17k 39% below VT |
$74,792±$25kHighest 8% below VT |
$47,375±$21kLowest 42% below VT |
| Jay and Charleston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $238,000±$53kHighest 25% below VT |
$234,200±$45k 26% below VT |
$163,900±$39kLowest 48% below VT |
| Charleston and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $979±$444Highest 21% below VT |
— | $775±$33Lowest 37% below VT |
| Charleston and Brighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,750Highest 26% below VT |
$3,588 29% below VT |
$3,360Lowest 33% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32.7%±26.4Lowest VT: 48.4% |
40%±100 VT: 48.4% |
55%±17Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Brighton and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 12.3% VT: 10.1% |
8.7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
22%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.1% VT: 73.2% |
97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
51.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1967Lowest 9 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest 12% above VT |
40 minHighest 69% above VT |
33 min 41% above VT |
| Work from home | 18.7%±7.1 VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.4%±8.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Jay and Charleston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Charleston School District | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | Brighton 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 |
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.