Compare towns
Newark vs Sheldon vs Whitingham 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.5%).
Sheldon has the shortest commute (25 min average).
Whitingham has the oldest population (median age 46.4).
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 | Sheldon | Whitingham | Brighton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 727Lowest |
2,267Highest |
1,368 |
1,167 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.5% VT: +2.8% |
-1% VT: +2.8% |
-5.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 41.4±6 4% below VT |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% below VT |
46.4±7.1Highest 8% above VT |
45.2±11.6 5% above VT |
| Whitingham 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% |
23.7%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
19.8%±4.5 VT: 17.9% |
18.3%±5.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Sheldon and Newark 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% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
31.1%±2.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
27.2%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
| Whitingham 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 VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
32.8% VT: 43.8% |
25.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.6%±0.6Lowest VT: 7% |
2%±1.3 VT: 7% |
2.2%±1.9 VT: 7% |
4.6%±2.4Highest VT: 7% |
| Brighton and Whitingham 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 |
$78,533±$25kHighest 3% below VT |
$70,625±$11k 13% below VT |
$47,375±$21kLowest 42% below VT |
| Sheldon 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 |
$272,400±$61kHighest 14% below VT |
$262,300±$30k 17% below VT |
$163,900±$39kLowest 48% below VT |
| Sheldon and Whitingham 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 |
$1,286±$379 4% above VT |
$673±$150Lowest 45% below VT |
$775±$33 37% below VT |
| Newark and Sheldon 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 |
$3,578 29% below VT |
$5,055Highest about the VT average |
$3,360Lowest 33% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 7.1%±100 VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
62.7%±47.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
55%±17 VT: 48.4% |
| Whitingham and Brighton 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% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
15.5% VT: 10.1% |
22% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
89% VT: 73.2% |
85.2% VT: 73.2% |
51.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1967Lowest 9 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 44% above VT |
25 minLowest 7% above VT |
38 minHighest 62% above VT |
33 min 41% above VT |
| Work from home | 13.8%±8.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
9.7%±5.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
12.4%±8.1 VT: 16.9% |
| Newark and Sheldon 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 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Twin Valley Unified School District #75 | Brighton School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Twin Valley Middle High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 7.8 |
— |
| 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.