Compare towns
Chelsea vs Newark vs Brookfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Chelsea has the oldest population (median age 54.1).
Newark has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.5%).
Brookfield has the most people working from home (27.3%).
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 | Chelsea | Newark | Brookfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,223 |
727Lowest |
1,486Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.4% VT: +2.8% |
+0.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 54.1±12.1Highest 26% above VT |
41.4±6Lowest 4% below VT |
47±5.9 9% above VT |
| Chelsea and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.9%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
22%±3Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±4.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Newark and Chelsea are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 29.4%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
19.9%±5.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29.7%±6.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Brookfield and Chelsea are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 29.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
41% VT: 43.8% |
45.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.4Highest VT: 7% |
0.6%±0.6Lowest VT: 7% |
3.2%±2.4 VT: 7% |
| Chelsea and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $65,913±$13kLowest 19% below VT |
$72,929±$7k 10% below VT |
$98,500±$23kHighest 21% above VT |
| Brookfield and Newark are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $260,900±$39k 18% below VT |
$229,900±$23kLowest 27% below VT |
$339,300±$15kHighest 7% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,524±$467 24% above VT |
$1,708±$97Highest 38% above VT |
$975±$306Lowest 21% below VT |
| Newark and Chelsea are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,762Lowest 25% below VT |
$3,771 25% below VT |
$4,560Highest 10% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.3%±33.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
7.1%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
30.4%±27.8 VT: 48.4% |
| Chelsea and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 14.3% VT: 10.1% |
22.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
6.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.2%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
87.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Lowest 9 yrs older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minLowest 28% above VT |
34 min 44% above VT |
37 minHighest 55% above VT |
| Work from home | 12.6%±7.8Lowest VT: 16.9% |
13.8%±8.2 VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±10.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Brookfield and Newark are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | First Branch Unified School District #82 | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 |
| 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.