Compare towns
Newark vs Colrain vs Brighton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Newark has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.5%).
Colrain has the most expensive homes ($284k median).
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 | Colrain | Brighton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 727Lowest |
1,627Highest |
1,167 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.4±6Lowest 6% above U.S. |
49.6±8.7Highest 28% above U.S. |
45.2±11.6 16% above U.S. |
| Colrain and Brighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22%±3Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.3%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.3%±5.7 U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.4%±4.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.2%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Colrain 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
37.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
25.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.6%±0.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Brighton and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $72,929±$7k 10% below U.S. |
$80,673±$10kHighest about the U.S. average |
$47,375±$21kLowest 41% below U.S. |
| Colrain and Newark are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $229,900±$23k 31% below U.S. |
$284,300±$14kHighest 15% below U.S. |
$163,900±$39kLowest 51% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,708±$97Highest 21% above U.S. |
$1,102±$77 22% below U.S. |
$775±$33Lowest 45% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,771 21% above U.S. |
$4,317Highest 38% above U.S. |
$3,360Lowest 8% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 7.1%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
46%±22.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
55%±17Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Brighton and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 22.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
22% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
51.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest same as U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 28% above U.S. |
34 min 27% above U.S. |
33 minLowest 25% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.8%±8.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.4%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.4%±8.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Newark and Brighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 | Mohawk Trail | Brighton School District |
| 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 |
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.