Compare towns
Brighton vs Castleton vs Newark vs Bellows Falls
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 affordable homes ($164k median).
Castleton has the youngest population (median age 38.3).
Newark has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.5%).
Bellows Falls has the most kids (22.6% under 18).
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 | Castleton | Newark | Bellows Falls |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,167 |
4,453Highest |
727Lowest |
2,891 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.3% VT: +2.8% |
-5.5% VT: +2.8% |
+0.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-12.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.2±11.6Highest 5% above VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
41.4±6 4% below VT |
41.3±6.7 4% below VT |
| Brighton and Newark are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.3%±5.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
22%±3 VT: 17.9% |
22.6%±6.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Bellows Falls and Newark are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 27.2%±4.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
19.9%±5.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
23.7%±5.7 VT: 21.4% |
| Brighton and Bellows Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 25.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
37.9% VT: 43.8% |
41%Highest VT: 43.8% |
27.5% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±2.4 VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
0.6%±0.6Lowest VT: 7% |
8.2%±4.3 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $47,375±$21kLowest 42% below VT |
$73,854±$23kHighest 9% below VT |
$72,929±$7k 10% below VT |
$56,086±$2k 31% below VT |
| Castleton 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±$39kLowest 48% below VT |
$224,800±$71k 29% below VT |
$229,900±$23kHighest 27% below VT |
$195,600±$35k 38% below VT |
| Newark and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $775±$33Lowest 37% below VT |
$1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$1,708±$97Highest 38% above VT |
$1,038±$109 16% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,360 33% below VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$3,771 25% below VT |
$4,448Highest 12% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55%±17 VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
7.1%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
43.9%±16.8 VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton 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% |
12.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
22.4% VT: 10.1% |
25.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 51.1% VT: 73.2% |
79% VT: 73.2% |
90.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
50.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 9 yrs older than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 41% above VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
34 minHighest 44% above VT |
20 min 14% below VT |
| Work from home | 12.4%±8.1 VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
13.8%±8.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.9%±5.3 VT: 16.9% |
| Newark 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 | — | #39 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Brighton School District | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | 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.