Compare towns
Brighton vs Newark vs Charleston
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
Bordering BrightonMorgan
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Brighton has the most renters (48.9% rent).
Newark has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.5%).
Charleston has the most people working from home (18.7%).
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 | Newark | Charleston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,167Highest |
727Lowest |
936 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+0.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.2% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.2±11.6 5% above VT |
41.4±6Lowest 4% below VT |
58.4±9.3Highest 35% above VT |
| Charleston 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% |
22%±3Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.2%±4.2Lowest 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%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
19.9%±5.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
37.7%±8.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Charleston 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% |
41%Highest VT: 43.8% |
13.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±2.4Highest VT: 7% |
0.6%±0.6Lowest VT: 7% |
3.7%±2.3 VT: 7% |
| Brighton and Charleston 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 |
$72,929±$7kHighest 10% below VT |
$49,286±$17k 39% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $163,900±$39kLowest 48% below VT |
$229,900±$23k 27% below VT |
$238,000±$53kHighest 25% below VT |
| Charleston 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 |
$979±$444 21% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,360Lowest 33% below VT |
$3,771Highest 25% below VT |
$3,750 26% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55%±17Highest VT: 48.4% |
7.1%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
32.7%±26.4 VT: 48.4% |
| Brighton and Charleston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 22% VT: 10.1% |
22.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
12.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 51.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
87.1% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Lowest 9 yrs older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 41% above VT |
34 minHighest 44% above VT |
26 minLowest 12% above VT |
| Work from home | 12.4%±8.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
13.8%±8.2 VT: 16.9% |
18.7%±7.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Charleston 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 | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 | Charleston School District |
| 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.