Compare towns
Morgan vs Castleton vs Charleston vs Brighton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Morgan has the most expensive homes ($311k median).
Castleton has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Charleston has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.2%).
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 | Morgan | Castleton | Charleston | Brighton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 827Lowest |
4,453Highest |
936 |
1,167 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -14.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-5.5% VT: +2.8% |
-0.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-5.3% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 40.9±6.4 5% below VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
58.4±9.3Highest 35% above VT |
45.2±11.6 5% above VT |
| Charleston and Brighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.5%±4.7Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
11.2%±4.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.3%±5.7 VT: 17.9% |
| Morgan and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 27.7%±6.6 VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
37.7%±8.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
27.2%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
| Charleston and Morgan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34% VT: 43.8% |
37.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
13.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
25.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1Lowest VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
3.7%±2.3 VT: 7% |
4.6%±2.4 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $91,250±$25kHighest 12% above VT |
$73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$49,286±$17k 39% below VT |
$47,375±$21kLowest 42% below VT |
| Morgan and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $311,300±$66kHighest about the VT average |
$224,800±$71k 29% below VT |
$238,000±$53k 25% below VT |
$163,900±$39kLowest 48% below VT |
| Morgan and Charleston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,112±$64 10% below VT |
$1,137±$195Highest 8% below VT |
$979±$444 21% below VT |
$775±$33Lowest 37% below VT |
| Castleton and Morgan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,426 32% below VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$3,750Highest 26% below VT |
$3,360 33% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±40.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
32.7%±26.4 VT: 48.4% |
55%±17 VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Brighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 10%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
12.5% VT: 10.1% |
12.3% VT: 10.1% |
22%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.8% VT: 73.2% |
79% VT: 73.2% |
87.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
51.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1967Lowest 9 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 15% above VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
26 min 12% above VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
| Work from home | 22.4%±6.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
18.7%±7.1 VT: 16.9% |
12.4%±8.1 VT: 16.9% |
| Morgan 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 | — | #39 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | — | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Charleston 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 | 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.