Compare towns
Brighton vs Newark vs Plainfield
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).
Newark has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.5%).
Plainfield has the most expensive homes ($318k median).
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 | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,167 |
727Lowest |
1,314Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+0.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.6% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.2±11.6 5% above VT |
41.4±6Lowest 4% below VT |
48.1±5.5Highest 12% above VT |
| Plainfield 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% |
16.3%±4.7Lowest 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% |
19.9%±5.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21.1%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
| Brighton and Plainfield 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% |
41% VT: 43.8% |
48.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±2.4Highest VT: 7% |
0.6%±0.6Lowest VT: 7% |
2.1%±1.3 VT: 7% |
| Brighton and Plainfield 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 |
$69,250±$31k 15% below VT |
| Newark and Plainfield 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 |
$229,900±$23k 27% below VT |
$318,400±$34kHighest about the VT average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $775±$33Lowest 37% below VT |
$1,708±$97Highest 38% above VT |
$1,153±$103 7% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,360Lowest 33% below VT |
$3,771 25% below VT |
$4,806Highest 5% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55%±17 VT: 48.4% |
7.1%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
73.2%±53.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Plainfield 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% |
22.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
11.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 51.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 9 yrs older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 41% above VT |
34 minHighest 44% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
| Work from home | 12.4%±8.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
13.8%±8.2 VT: 16.9% |
16.4%±4.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Plainfield 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 | — |
| High school 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.