Compare towns

Newark vs Springfield vs Burke 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%).
Springfield has the oldest housing (typical home built 1958).
Burke has the most people working from home (23.4%).
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.

MeasureNewarkSpringfieldBurkeBrighton
People
Population
727Lowest
9,084Highest
1,317
1,167
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+0.5%Highest
VT: +2.8%
-3.3%
VT: +2.8%
-5.8%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
-5.3%
VT: +2.8%
Median age
41.4±6
4% below VT
43.2±3.7
about the VT average
41.1±4.8Lowest
5% below VT
45.2±11.6Highest
5% above VT
Brighton and Springfield 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%
18.6%±3.4
VT: 17.9%
23%±4Highest
VT: 17.9%
18.3%±5.7Lowest
VT: 17.9%
Burke 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%
23.6%±3.7
VT: 21.4%
21.7%±2.2
VT: 21.4%
27.2%±4.6Highest
VT: 21.4%
Brighton and Springfield 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%
23.3%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
41.4%Highest
VT: 43.8%
25.9%
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
0.6%±0.6Lowest
VT: 7%
2.3%±1.4
VT: 7%
3.6%±2.3
VT: 7%
4.6%±2.4Highest
VT: 7%
Brighton and Burke 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
$66,571±$13k
18% below VT
$87,143±$17kHighest
7% above VT
$47,375±$21kLowest
42% below VT
Burke 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
$192,400±$20k
39% below VT
$340,600±$18kHighest
8% above VT
$163,900±$39kLowest
48% below VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,708±$97Highest
38% above VT
$963±$100
22% below VT
$938±$191
24% below VT
$775±$33Lowest
37% below VT
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,771
25% below VT
$4,807
5% below VT
$5,177Highest
about the VT average
$3,360Lowest
33% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
7.1%±100Lowest
VT: 48.4%
49.6%±15.6
VT: 48.4%
74.6%±31Highest
VT: 48.4%
55%±17
VT: 48.4%
Burke 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%
14.8%
VT: 10.1%
10%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
22%
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
90.8%Highest
VT: 73.2%
67.7%
VT: 73.2%
88.6%
VT: 73.2%
51.1%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1980
4 yrs newer than VT
1958Lowest
18 yrs older than VT
1981Highest
5 yrs newer than VT
1967
9 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
34 minHighest
44% above VT
27 min
16% above VT
25 minLowest
8% above VT
33 min
41% above VT
Work from home
13.8%±8.2
VT: 16.9%
15.1%±5.5
VT: 16.9%
23.4%±6.8Highest
VT: 16.9%
12.4%±8.1Lowest
VT: 16.9%
Burke and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading — #64 of 70 in VT — —
School district Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 River Valley Technical Center · Springfield School District Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 Brighton School District
High school in town None in town Springfield High School None in town None in town
Students per teacherat that high school —
14.3
— —
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.