Compare towns
Charleston vs Williston 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 oldest population (median age 58.4).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
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 | Williston | Brighton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 936Lowest |
10,144Highest |
1,167 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.2% VT: +2.8% |
+16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-5.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 58.4±9.3Highest 35% above VT |
45.4±4.5 5% above VT |
45.2±11.6Lowest 5% above VT |
| Charleston and Williston 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% |
20.5%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.3%±5.7 VT: 17.9% |
| Williston and Brighton 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% |
21%±3.5Lowest 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% |
54.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
25.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.3Lowest VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7Highest VT: 7% |
4.6%±2.4 VT: 7% |
| 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 | $49,286±$17k 39% below VT |
$106,967±$12kHighest 32% above VT |
$47,375±$21kLowest 42% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $238,000±$53k 25% below VT |
$475,800±$40kHighest 50% above VT |
$163,900±$39kLowest 48% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $979±$444 21% below VT |
$1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
$775±$33Lowest 37% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,750 26% below VT |
$5,592Highest 11% above VT |
$3,360Lowest 33% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32.7%±26.4Lowest VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4 VT: 48.4% |
55%±17Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Brighton and Williston 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% |
4.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
22%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
75.1% VT: 73.2% |
51.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
1967Lowest 9 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 12% above VT |
20 minLowest 16% below VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
| Work from home | 18.7%±7.1 VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.4%±8.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Williston and Charleston 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 | — |
| School district | Charleston School District | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | 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.