Compare towns
Orange vs Brighton vs Groton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Orange has grown the fastest since 2010 (-2.2%).
Brighton has the most renters (48.9% rent).
Groton has the most expensive homes ($243k 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.
| Measure | Orange | Brighton | Groton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 957Lowest |
1,167Highest |
967 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-5.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-3.7% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.3±5.3Highest 17% above VT |
45.2±11.6Lowest 5% above VT |
45.7±5.8 6% above VT |
| Orange and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.6%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
18.3%±5.7Highest VT: 17.9% |
13.3%±2.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Brighton and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.4%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
27.2%±4.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.5%±3 VT: 21.4% |
| Brighton and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 22.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
25.9% VT: 43.8% |
38.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.9Lowest VT: 7% |
4.6%±2.4 VT: 7% |
7.5%±5.7Highest 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 | $71,302±$13k 12% below VT |
$47,375±$21kLowest 42% below VT |
$77,250±$14kHighest 5% below VT |
| Groton and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $222,000±$22k 30% below VT |
$163,900±$39kLowest 48% below VT |
$243,000±$70kHighest 23% below VT |
| Groton and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,330±$153Highest 8% above VT |
$775±$33 37% below VT |
$288±$151Lowest 77% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,545 30% below VT |
$3,360Lowest 33% below VT |
$3,659Highest 27% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±87Lowest VT: 48.4% |
55%±17Highest VT: 48.4% |
12.5%±72.9 VT: 48.4% |
| Brighton and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.6% VT: 10.1% |
22%Highest VT: 10.1% |
6.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.8% VT: 73.2% |
51.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
94.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
1967Lowest 9 yrs older than VT |
1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 19% above VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
30 min 29% above VT |
| Work from home | 13.5%±4.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.4%±8.1 VT: 16.9% |
12.3%±7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Orange and Brighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Echo Valley Community Union School District #67 | Brighton School District | — |
| High school 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.