Compare towns
Brighton vs Newport vs Wilder
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 kids (18.3% under 18).
Newport has the most people working from home (16.8%).
Wilder has grown the fastest since 2010 (+81.7%).
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 | Newport | Wilder |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,167Lowest |
4,394Highest |
3,087 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-2.9% VT: +2.8% |
+81.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.2±11.6Lowest 5% above VT |
46.4±4.3Highest 8% above VT |
45.5±8.9 6% above VT |
| Newport and Wilder are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.3%±5.7Highest VT: 17.9% |
13.2%±3.9 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±4.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Brighton and Newport 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% |
25.8%±4.7Lowest VT: 21.4% |
27.3%±4.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Wilder 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% |
25.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
60.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±2.4 VT: 7% |
2.8%±1.5Lowest VT: 7% |
8.1%±3.9Highest VT: 7% |
| Wilder and Brighton 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 |
$54,646±$12k 33% below VT |
$75,143±$9kHighest 7% below VT |
| Wilder and Newport 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 |
$179,400±$11k 43% below VT |
$273,200±$18kHighest 14% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $775±$33Lowest 37% below VT |
$850±$49 31% below VT |
$1,142±$451Highest 7% below VT |
| Wilder and Newport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,360Lowest 33% below VT |
$4,036 20% below VT |
$5,505Highest 9% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55%±17Highest VT: 48.4% |
48.2%±15.8 VT: 48.4% |
39.9%±17.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Brighton and Newport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 22% VT: 10.1% |
23%Highest VT: 10.1% |
9.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 51.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
57.6% VT: 73.2% |
62.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 9 yrs older than VT |
1966Lowest 10 yrs older than VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 41% above VT |
15 minLowest 38% below VT |
17 min 29% below VT |
| Work from home | 12.4%±8.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
16.8%±8.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.6%±6.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Newport and Wilder 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 | — | #63 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Brighton School District | Newport City School District · North Country Union High School District | — |
| High school in town | None in town | North Country Union High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.7 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.