Compare towns
Brighton vs Braintree vs Barton vs Newark
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Brighton has the most renters (48.9% rent).
Braintree has the oldest population (median age 58.4).
Barton has the most affordable homes ($147k median).
Newark has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.5%).
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 | Brighton | Braintree | Barton | Newark |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,167Highest |
1,026 |
730 |
727Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.3% VT: +2.8% |
-3.1% VT: +2.8% |
-6.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+0.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.2±11.6 5% above VT |
58.4±2.4Highest 35% above VT |
40±5.5Lowest 7% below VT |
41.4±6 4% below VT |
| Braintree and Brighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.3%±5.7 VT: 17.9% |
12.3%±3.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
24.1%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
22%±3 VT: 17.9% |
| Barton and Newark are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 27.2%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
33.2%±3.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.2%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
19.9%±5.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Braintree and Brighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 25.9% VT: 43.8% |
30.9% VT: 43.8% |
21.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
41%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±2.4Highest VT: 7% |
1.8%±1.3 VT: 7% |
1.9%±1.6 VT: 7% |
0.6%±0.6Lowest VT: 7% |
| Brighton and Barton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $47,375±$21k 42% below VT |
$79,803±$5kHighest about the VT average |
$40,833±$8kLowest 50% below VT |
$72,929±$7k 10% below VT |
| Braintree and Newark are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $163,900±$39k 48% below VT |
$217,700±$28k 31% below VT |
$146,900±$30kLowest 54% below VT |
$229,900±$23kHighest 27% below VT |
| Newark and Braintree are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $775±$33 37% below VT |
$840±$405 32% below VT |
$761±$150Lowest 38% below VT |
$1,708±$97Highest 38% above VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,360 33% below VT |
$3,908Highest 22% below VT |
$3,185Lowest 37% below VT |
$3,771 25% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55%±17 VT: 48.4% |
43.4%±29.4 VT: 48.4% |
58.8%±18.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
7.1%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Barton and Brighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 22% VT: 10.1% |
11.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
25.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
22.4% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 51.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
81% VT: 73.2% |
52.7% VT: 73.2% |
90.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 9 yrs older than VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1945Lowest 31 yrs older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 41% above VT |
26 minLowest 11% above VT |
31 min 32% above VT |
34 minHighest 44% above VT |
| Work from home | 12.4%±8.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
19%±7.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.5%±10.4 VT: 16.9% |
13.8%±8.2 VT: 16.9% |
| Braintree and Barton 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 | Brighton School District | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | — | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 |
| 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.