What stands out worked out from the figures below

Chelsea has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.4%).

Brighton has the most affordable homes ($164k median).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Chelsea	Brighton
People
Population	1,223Highest	1,167Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-0.4%Highest VT: +2.8%	-5.3%Lowest VT: +2.8%
Median age	54.1±12.1Highest 26% above VT	45.2±11.6Lowest 5% above VT
	Chelsea and Brighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21.9%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9%	18.3%±5.7Lowest VT: 17.9%
	Chelsea and Brighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	29.4%±3.5Highest VT: 21.4%	27.2%±4.6Lowest VT: 21.4%
	Chelsea and Brighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	29.6%Highest VT: 43.8%	25.9%Lowest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.8%±2.4Highest VT: 7%	4.6%±2.4Lowest VT: 7%
	Chelsea and Brighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$65,913±$13kHighest 19% below VT	$47,375±$21kLowest 42% below VT
	Chelsea and Brighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$260,900±$39kHighest 18% below VT	$163,900±$39kLowest 48% below VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,524±$467Highest 24% above VT	$775±$33Lowest 37% below VT
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,762Highest 25% below VT	$3,360Lowest 33% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	66.3%±33.2Highest VT: 48.4%	55%±17Lowest VT: 48.4%
	Chelsea and Brighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	14.3%Lowest VT: 10.1%	22%Highest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	81.2%Highest VT: 73.2%	51.1%Lowest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1967 9 yrs older than VT	1967 9 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minLowest 28% above VT	33 minHighest 41% above VT
Work from home	12.6%±7.8Highest VT: 16.9%	12.4%±8.1Lowest VT: 16.9%
	Chelsea and Brighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	First Branch Unified School District #82	Brighton School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.