Compare towns
Newark vs Strafford 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%).
Strafford has the most expensive homes ($431k median).
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 | Strafford | Brighton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 727Lowest |
1,372Highest |
1,167 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.4% VT: +2.8% |
-5.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 41.4±6Lowest 4% below VT |
51.4±4.7Highest 19% above VT |
45.2±11.6 5% above VT |
| Strafford 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%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.3%±5.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Strafford 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% |
22.1%±3.4 VT: 21.4% |
27.2%±4.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Brighton and Strafford 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% |
53.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
25.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.6%±0.6Lowest VT: 7% |
5.1%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
4.6%±2.4 VT: 7% |
| Strafford and Brighton 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 |
$110,833±$19kHighest 36% above VT |
$47,375±$21kLowest 42% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $229,900±$23k 27% below VT |
$431,300±$40kHighest 36% above VT |
$163,900±$39kLowest 48% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,708±$97Highest 38% above VT |
$1,125±$789 9% below VT |
$775±$33Lowest 37% below VT |
| Newark and Strafford 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 |
$7,149Highest 42% above VT |
$3,360Lowest 33% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 7.1%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±48 VT: 48.4% |
55%±17Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Brighton and Strafford 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% |
5.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
22% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
88.9% VT: 73.2% |
51.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1967Lowest 9 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 44% above VT |
23 minLowest about the VT average |
33 min 41% above VT |
| Work from home | 13.8%±8.2 VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±4.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.4%±8.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Strafford and Newark 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 | Strafford 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 |
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.