Compare towns
Newark vs Jay 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 the most kids (22% under 18).
Jay has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
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 | Jay | Brighton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 727 |
471Lowest |
1,167Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.5% VT: +2.8% |
+5.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-5.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 41.4±6Lowest 4% below VT |
52.1±10.5Highest 21% above VT |
45.2±11.6 5% above VT |
| Jay 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% |
14.2%±7.3Lowest 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%±5.1 VT: 21.4% |
15.5%±6.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
27.2%±4.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Brighton and Newark are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41% VT: 43.8% |
45.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
25.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.6%±0.6Lowest VT: 7% |
1.9%±2.5 VT: 7% |
4.6%±2.4Highest VT: 7% |
| Brighton and Jay 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 VT |
$74,792±$25kHighest 8% below VT |
$47,375±$21kLowest 42% below VT |
| Jay 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 27% below VT |
$234,200±$45kHighest 26% below VT |
$163,900±$39kLowest 48% below VT |
| Jay 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 |
— | $775±$33Lowest 37% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,771Highest 25% below VT |
$3,588 29% below VT |
$3,360Lowest 33% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 7.1%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
40%±100 VT: 48.4% |
55%±17Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Brighton and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 22.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
22% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.8% VT: 73.2% |
97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
51.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1967Lowest 9 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 44% above VT |
40 minHighest 69% above VT |
33 minLowest 41% above VT |
| Work from home | 13.8%±8.2 VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.4%±8.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Jay and Newark 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 | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | 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 |
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.