Compare towns
Brighton vs Jay 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).
Jay has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
Newark has the most kids (22% 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 | Jay | Newark |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,167Highest |
471Lowest |
727 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+0.5% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.2±11.6 5% above VT |
52.1±10.5Highest 21% above VT |
41.4±6Lowest 4% below VT |
| Jay 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% |
14.2%±7.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
22%±3Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Newark and Brighton 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% |
15.5%±6.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
19.9%±5.1 VT: 21.4% |
| Brighton and Newark 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% |
45.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
41% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±2.4Highest VT: 7% |
1.9%±2.5 VT: 7% |
0.6%±0.6Lowest VT: 7% |
| Brighton and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $47,375±$21kLowest 42% below VT |
$74,792±$25kHighest 8% below VT |
$72,929±$7k 10% below VT |
| Jay 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 |
$234,200±$45kHighest 26% below VT |
$229,900±$23k 27% below VT |
| Jay and Newark 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 |
— | $1,708±$97Highest 38% above VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,360Lowest 33% below VT |
$3,588 29% below VT |
$3,771Highest 25% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55%±17Highest VT: 48.4% |
40%±100 VT: 48.4% |
7.1%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Brighton and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 22% VT: 10.1% |
8.7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
22.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 51.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
90.8% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Lowest 9 yrs older than VT |
2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minLowest 41% above VT |
40 minHighest 69% above VT |
34 min 44% above VT |
| Work from home | 12.4%±8.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
13.8%±8.2 VT: 16.9% |
| Jay and Newark are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Brighton School District | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | 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 |
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.