Compare towns
Orleans vs Unity vs Barton vs Brighton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Orleans has grown the fastest since 2010 (-3.7%).
Unity has the most expensive homes ($276k median).
Barton has the most people working from home (16.5%).
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 | Orleans | Unity | Barton | Brighton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 809 |
1,375Highest |
730Lowest |
1,167 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-9.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.7±5.8 7% above U.S. |
58±4.5Highest 49% above U.S. |
40±5.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
45.2±11.6 16% above U.S. |
| Unity and Brighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.9%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
12%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
24.1%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.3%±5.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Barton and Brighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
34.9%±7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.2%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.2%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Unity and Brighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
21.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
21.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
25.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 29% below U.S. |
$87,500±$16kHighest 8% above U.S. |
$40,833±$8kLowest 49% below U.S. |
$47,375±$21k 41% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $156,300±$18k 53% below U.S. |
$276,100±$29kHighest 17% below U.S. |
$146,900±$30kLowest 56% below U.S. |
$163,900±$39k 51% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $810±$94 43% below U.S. |
$1,625±$804Highest 15% above U.S. |
$761±$150Lowest 46% below U.S. |
$775±$33 45% below U.S. |
| Unity and Orleans are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,019Lowest 3% below U.S. |
$5,394Highest 73% above U.S. |
$3,185 about the U.S. average |
$3,360 8% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.3%±17.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
58.8%±18.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
55%±17 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Barton and Brighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
25.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
22% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
52.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
51.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1945 35 yrs older than U.S. |
1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 19% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 32% above U.S. |
31 minLowest 18% above U.S. |
33 min 25% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.3%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.5%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.5%±10.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.4%±8.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Barton and Brighton 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 | — | — | #38 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | — | Unity School District | — | Brighton School District |
| High school in town | — | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 4 photos → | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.