Compare towns
Newark vs Chester vs Brighton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Newark has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.5%).
Chester has the shortest commute (28 min average).
Brighton has the most renters (48.9% rent).
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 | Newark | Chester | Brighton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 727Lowest |
2,992Highest |
1,167 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-4.7% VT: +2.8% |
-5.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 41.4±6Lowest 4% below VT |
49.7±4.7Highest 15% above VT |
45.2±11.6 5% above VT |
| Chester and Brighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22%±3Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.1%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.3%±5.7 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+ | 19.9%±5.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29.8%±7.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
27.2%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
| Chester and Brighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41%Highest VT: 43.8% |
33.1% VT: 43.8% |
25.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.6%±0.6Lowest VT: 7% |
5.1%±4Highest VT: 7% |
4.6%±2.4 VT: 7% |
| Chester and Brighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $72,929±$7kHighest 10% below VT |
$62,125±$8k 23% below VT |
$47,375±$21kLowest 42% below VT |
| Newark and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $229,900±$23k 27% below VT |
$232,900±$44kHighest 26% below VT |
$163,900±$39kLowest 48% below VT |
| Chester and Newark are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,708±$97Highest 38% above VT |
$960±$44 22% below VT |
$775±$33Lowest 37% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,771 25% below VT |
$4,262Highest 15% below VT |
$3,360Lowest 33% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 7.1%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
11.5%±12.3 VT: 48.4% |
55%±17Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Below poverty line | 22.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
22% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
86.7% VT: 73.2% |
51.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1967Lowest 9 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 44% above VT |
28 minLowest 18% above VT |
33 min 41% above VT |
| Work from home | 13.8%±8.2 VT: 16.9% |
14%±6.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.4%±8.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Chester 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 | — | #49 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | Brighton School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Green Mountain Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.7 |
— |
| 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.