Compare towns
Orleans vs White River Junction 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 homeowners (64.1%).
White River Junction has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.8%).
Brighton has the oldest population (median age 45.2).
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 | White River Junction | Brighton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 809Lowest |
3,364Highest |
1,167 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.7% VT: +2.8% |
+10.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-5.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 41.7±5.8 3% below VT |
33.7±3.2Lowest 22% 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%±4.5 VT: 17.9% |
17.1%±5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.3%±5.7Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Brighton and Orleans 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% |
12.5%±3.6Lowest 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% |
38.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
25.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.1 VT: 7% |
1.2%±1.1Lowest 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 |
$77,168±$4kHighest 5% below VT |
$47,375±$21kLowest 42% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $156,300±$18kLowest 51% below VT |
$278,800±$78kHighest 12% below VT |
$163,900±$39k 48% below VT |
| White River Junction and Brighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $810±$94 34% below VT |
$1,222±$216Highest about the VT average |
$775±$33Lowest 37% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,019Lowest 40% below VT |
$5,651Highest 12% above VT |
$3,360 33% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.3%±17.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
42.9%±17.3 VT: 48.4% |
55%±17Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Brighton and White River Junction are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
12.1% VT: 10.1% |
22%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
43.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
51.1% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1963 13 yrs older than VT |
1967Highest 9 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 33% above VT |
15 minLowest 35% below VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
| Work from home | 8.3%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
15.7%±5.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.4%±8.1 VT: 16.9% |
| White River Junction and Brighton 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.