Compare towns
Newark vs Reading vs Burke 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 most affordable homes ($230k median).
Reading has the oldest population (median age 51.1).
Burke has the shortest commute (25 min average).
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 | Reading | Burke | Halifax |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 727 |
699Lowest |
1,317Highest |
847 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.5% VT: +2.8% |
+3.2% VT: +2.8% |
-5.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 41.4±6 4% below VT |
51.1±7.6Highest 19% above VT |
41.1±4.8 5% below VT |
40.6±13.1Lowest 6% below VT |
| Reading and Newark 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% |
18.5%±4.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23%±4 VT: 17.9% |
25.4%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Halifax and Burke 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% |
28.2%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.7%±2.2 VT: 21.4% |
22.6%±7.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Reading 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%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
46%Highest VT: 43.8% |
41.4% VT: 43.8% |
44.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.6%±0.6Lowest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5 VT: 7% |
3.6%±2.3Highest VT: 7% |
1.2%±0.9 VT: 7% |
| Burke and Reading 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 |
$85,000±$19k 5% above VT |
$87,143±$17kHighest 7% above VT |
$63,889±$7kLowest 21% below VT |
| Burke and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $229,900±$23kLowest 27% below VT |
$377,200±$72kHighest 19% above VT |
$340,600±$18k 8% above VT |
$267,500±$21k 16% below VT |
| Reading and Burke 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 |
$1,100±$331 11% below VT |
$938±$191 24% below VT |
$875±$154Lowest 29% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,771Lowest 25% below VT |
$5,754Highest 14% above VT |
$5,177 about the VT average |
$4,991 about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 7.1%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7 VT: 48.4% |
74.6%±31Highest VT: 48.4% |
57.1%±73.8 VT: 48.4% |
| Burke and Reading 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% |
8.4% VT: 10.1% |
10% VT: 10.1% |
6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
84.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
88.6% VT: 73.2% |
86.6% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1969 7 yrs older than VT |
1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
1968Lowest 8 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 44% above VT |
33 min 41% above VT |
25 minLowest 8% above VT |
33 min 38% above VT |
| Work from home | 13.8%±8.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6 VT: 16.9% |
23.4%±6.8 VT: 16.9% |
29.9%±11.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Halifax and Burke 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 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 | Halifax School District |
| High school in town | None 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.