Compare towns
Groton vs Brighton vs Ryegate
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Groton has the highest household income ($77k).
Brighton has the most renters (48.9% rent).
Ryegate has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.8%).
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 | Groton | Brighton | Ryegate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 967Lowest |
1,167Highest |
1,059 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.7% VT: +2.8% |
-5.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.7±5.8Highest 6% above VT |
45.2±11.6 5% above VT |
41.2±2.6Lowest 4% below VT |
| Groton and Brighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.3%±2.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.3%±5.7 VT: 17.9% |
23.2%±4.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Ryegate and Brighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.5%±3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
27.2%±4.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
22.1%±1.5 VT: 21.4% |
| Brighton and Ryegate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 38.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
25.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
29.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.5%±5.7Highest VT: 7% |
4.6%±2.4 VT: 7% |
2.4%±1.4Lowest VT: 7% |
| Groton and Brighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $77,250±$14kHighest 5% below VT |
$47,375±$21kLowest 42% below VT |
$66,484±$15k 18% below VT |
| Groton and Ryegate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $243,000±$70kHighest 23% below VT |
$163,900±$39kLowest 48% below VT |
$219,300±$32k 31% below VT |
| Groton and Ryegate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $288±$151Lowest 77% below VT |
$775±$33 37% below VT |
$908±$236Highest 26% below VT |
| Ryegate and Brighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,659Highest 27% below VT |
$3,360Lowest 33% below VT |
$3,472 31% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 12.5%±72.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
55%±17 VT: 48.4% |
55.9%±29.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Ryegate and Brighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
22%Highest VT: 10.1% |
14.5% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
51.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
84.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
1967 9 yrs older than VT |
1949Lowest 27 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 29% above VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
28 minLowest 18% above VT |
| Work from home | 12.3%±7 VT: 16.9% |
12.4%±8.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
8.2%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Brighton and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | Brighton School District | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.