Compare towns

Brighton vs Wheelock vs Barton 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).
Wheelock has the most people working from home (21.1%).
Barton has the most affordable homes ($147k median).
Newark has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.5%).

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.

MeasureBrightonWheelockBartonNewark
People
Population
1,167Highest
717Lowest
730
727
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-5.3%
VT: +2.8%
-6.4%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
-6.4%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
+0.5%Highest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
45.2±11.6
5% above VT
51±5.6Highest
18% above VT
40±5.5Lowest
7% below VT
41.4±6
4% below VT
Wheelock and Brighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
18.3%±5.7Lowest
VT: 17.9%
18.8%±3.5
VT: 17.9%
24.1%±5.4Highest
VT: 17.9%
22%±3
VT: 17.9%
Barton and Newark are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
27.2%±4.6
VT: 21.4%
29.4%±4.7Highest
VT: 21.4%
21.2%±4.2
VT: 21.4%
19.9%±5.1Lowest
VT: 21.4%
Wheelock 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%
34.9%
VT: 43.8%
21.7%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
41%Highest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.6%±2.4Highest
VT: 7%
2.8%±2.3
VT: 7%
1.9%±1.6
VT: 7%
0.6%±0.6Lowest
VT: 7%
Brighton and Wheelock 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
42% below VT
$64,792±$20k
20% below VT
$40,833±$8kLowest
50% below VT
$72,929±$7kHighest
10% below VT
Newark and Wheelock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$163,900±$39k
48% below VT
$189,600±$37k
40% below VT
$146,900±$30kLowest
54% below VT
$229,900±$23kHighest
27% below VT
Newark and Wheelock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$775±$33
37% below VT
—
$761±$150Lowest
38% below VT
$1,708±$97Highest
38% above VT
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,360
33% below VT
$2,937Lowest
42% below VT
$3,185
37% below VT
$3,771Highest
25% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
55%±17
VT: 48.4%
0%±100Lowest
VT: 48.4%
58.8%±18.2Highest
VT: 48.4%
7.1%±100
VT: 48.4%
Barton 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%
8.7%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
25.8%Highest
VT: 10.1%
22.4%
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
51.1%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
97.9%Highest
VT: 73.2%
52.7%
VT: 73.2%
90.8%
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1967
9 yrs older than VT
1989Highest
13 yrs newer than VT
1945Lowest
31 yrs older than VT
1980
4 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
33 min
41% above VT
28 minLowest
17% above VT
31 min
32% above VT
34 minHighest
44% above VT
Work from home
12.4%±8.1Lowest
VT: 16.9%
21.1%±16Highest
VT: 16.9%
16.5%±10.4
VT: 16.9%
13.8%±8.2
VT: 16.9%
Wheelock and Barton 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 — — #38 of 70 in VT —
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 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.