Compare towns
Orleans vs Stratton vs Brighton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Orleans has the most affordable homes ($156k median).
Stratton has the most expensive homes ($400k median).
Brighton has the most people working from home (12.4%).
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 | Orleans | Stratton | Brighton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 809 |
532Lowest |
1,167Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— | -5.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 41.7±5.8 3% below VT |
31.5±4.1Lowest 27% below VT |
45.2±11.6Highest 5% above VT |
| Brighton and Orleans are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.9%±4.5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
28%±7.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.3%±5.7 VT: 17.9% |
| Stratton and Brighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.7%±3.2 VT: 21.4% |
11.7%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
27.2%±4.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Brighton and Orleans are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24.8%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
33.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
25.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.1 VT: 7% |
1.3%±2.8Lowest VT: 7% |
4.6%±2.4Highest VT: 7% |
| Brighton and Orleans are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $57,159±$10k 30% below VT |
$122,708±$33kHighest 51% above VT |
$47,375±$21kLowest 42% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $156,300±$18kLowest 51% below VT |
$400,000±$50kHighest 26% above VT |
$163,900±$39k 48% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $810±$94 34% below VT |
$1,208±$979Highest about the VT average |
$775±$33Lowest 37% below VT |
| Stratton and Orleans are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,019Lowest 40% below VT |
$4,750Highest 6% below VT |
$3,360 33% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.3%±17.2 VT: 48.4% |
12%±69.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
55%±17Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Brighton and Orleans are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.2% VT: 10.1% |
0%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
22%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.1% VT: 73.2% |
73.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
51.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1988Highest 12 yrs newer than VT |
1967 9 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minLowest 33% above VT |
33 min 39% above VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
| Work from home | 8.3%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
3.3%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
12.4%±8.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Brighton and Orleans 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 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.