Compare towns
Brighton vs Newark vs Ware vs Barton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Brighton has the oldest population (median age 45.2).
Newark has the most homeowners (90.8%).
Ware has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2%).
Barton has the most people working from home (16.5%).
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 | Newark | Ware | Barton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,167 |
727Lowest |
10,048Highest |
730 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.2±11.6Highest 16% above U.S. |
41.4±6 6% above U.S. |
43.1±4.7 11% above U.S. |
40±5.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Brighton and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.3%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22%±3 U.S.: 22% |
19.1%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
24.1%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Barton and Newark are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 27.2%±4.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.9%±5.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.2%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Brighton and Barton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 25.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
41%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
24% U.S.: 35.7% |
21.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.6%±0.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Brighton and Ware 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 41% below U.S. |
$72,929±$7kHighest 10% below U.S. |
$67,475±$15k 16% below U.S. |
$40,833±$8kLowest 49% below U.S. |
| Newark and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $163,900±$39k 51% below U.S. |
$229,900±$23k 31% below U.S. |
$289,700±$28kHighest 13% below U.S. |
$146,900±$30kLowest 56% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $775±$33 45% below U.S. |
$1,708±$97Highest 21% above U.S. |
$1,043±$109 26% below U.S. |
$761±$150Lowest 46% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,360 8% above U.S. |
$3,771 21% above U.S. |
$4,237Highest 36% above U.S. |
$3,185Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55%±17 U.S.: 51.1% |
7.1%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
64.3%±16.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
58.8%±18.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ware and Barton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 22% U.S.: 12.5% |
22.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
25.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 51.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
52.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1960 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1945Lowest 35 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 25% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 28% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 8% above U.S. |
31 min 18% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.4%±8.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.8%±8.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.5%±10.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Barton and Newark 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 | — | — | #267 of 282 in MA | #38 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Brighton School District | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 | Ware | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Ware Junior/Senior High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.1 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.