Compare towns
Newark vs Plainfield vs Brighton vs Halifax
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 highest household income ($73k).
Plainfield has the shortest commute (24 min average).
Brighton has the most renters (48.9% rent).
Halifax has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.9%).
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 | Plainfield | Brighton | Halifax |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 727Lowest |
1,314Highest |
1,167 |
847 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.5% VT: +2.8% |
-0.6% VT: +2.8% |
-5.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 41.4±6 4% below VT |
48.1±5.5Highest 12% above VT |
45.2±11.6 5% above VT |
40.6±13.1Lowest 6% below VT |
| Plainfield 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% |
16.3%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.3%±5.7 VT: 17.9% |
25.4%±5.3Highest 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% |
21.1%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
27.2%±4.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
22.6%±7.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Brighton and Halifax 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% |
48.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
25.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
44.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.6%±0.6Lowest VT: 7% |
2.1%±1.3 VT: 7% |
4.6%±2.4Highest VT: 7% |
1.2%±0.9 VT: 7% |
| Brighton and Plainfield 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 |
$69,250±$31k 15% below VT |
$47,375±$21kLowest 42% below VT |
$63,889±$7k 21% below VT |
| Newark and Plainfield 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 |
$318,400±$34kHighest about the VT average |
$163,900±$39kLowest 48% below VT |
$267,500±$21k 16% below VT |
| Plainfield and Halifax 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 |
$1,153±$103 7% below VT |
$775±$33Lowest 37% below VT |
$875±$154 29% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,771 25% below VT |
$4,806 5% below VT |
$3,360Lowest 33% below VT |
$4,991Highest about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 7.1%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
73.2%±53.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
55%±17 VT: 48.4% |
57.1%±73.8 VT: 48.4% |
| Plainfield 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% |
11.6% VT: 10.1% |
22% VT: 10.1% |
6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.9% VT: 73.2% |
51.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
86.6% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1967 9 yrs older than VT |
1968 8 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 44% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
33 min 41% above VT |
33 min 38% above VT |
| Work from home | 13.8%±8.2 VT: 16.9% |
16.4%±4.4 VT: 16.9% |
12.4%±8.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
29.9%±11.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Halifax and Plainfield 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 | — | Brighton School District | Halifax 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.