Compare towns
Newark vs Mendon vs Halifax vs Brighton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Mendon has the shortest commute (17 min average).
Halifax has the most people working from home (29.9%).
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 | Mendon | Halifax | Brighton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 727Lowest |
1,113 |
847 |
1,167Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.5% VT: +2.8% |
+8.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+5.9% VT: +2.8% |
-5.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 41.4±6 4% below VT |
53.4±10.5Highest 24% above VT |
40.6±13.1Lowest 6% below VT |
45.2±11.6 5% above VT |
| Mendon and Brighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22%±3 VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±5.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
25.4%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.3%±5.7 VT: 17.9% |
| Halifax and Newark 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%±1.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
22.6%±7.2 VT: 21.4% |
27.2%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
| Mendon 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% VT: 43.8% |
49.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
44.9% VT: 43.8% |
25.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.6%±0.6Lowest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
1.2%±0.9 VT: 7% |
4.6%±2.4Highest VT: 7% |
| Brighton and Mendon 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 |
$100,524±$23kHighest 24% above VT |
$63,889±$7k 21% below VT |
$47,375±$21kLowest 42% below VT |
| Mendon 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 |
$357,000±$44kHighest 13% above VT |
$267,500±$21k 16% below VT |
$163,900±$39kLowest 48% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,708±$97Highest 38% above VT |
$1,230±$651 about the VT average |
$875±$154 29% below VT |
$775±$33Lowest 37% below VT |
| Newark and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,771 25% below VT |
$5,342Highest 6% above VT |
$4,991 about the VT average |
$3,360Lowest 33% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 7.1%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
88.6%±42.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
57.1%±73.8 VT: 48.4% |
55%±17 VT: 48.4% |
| Mendon and Halifax 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% |
8.2% VT: 10.1% |
6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
22% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.8% VT: 73.2% |
92.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
86.6% VT: 73.2% |
51.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1968 8 yrs older than VT |
1967Lowest 9 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 44% above VT |
17 minLowest 28% below VT |
33 min 38% above VT |
33 min 41% above VT |
| Work from home | 13.8%±8.2 VT: 16.9% |
22.5%±8.9 VT: 16.9% |
29.9%±11.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.4%±8.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Halifax and Mendon 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 | — | Halifax 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 | 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.