Compare towns
Newark vs Sutton vs Townsend vs Brighton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Newark has the most people working from home (13.8%).
Sutton has the shortest commute (30 min average).
Townsend has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.3%).
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 | Sutton | Townsend | Brighton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 727Lowest |
790 |
9,100Highest |
1,167 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-11.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.4±6 6% above U.S. |
46.6±5.7Highest 20% above U.S. |
40.9±3.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
45.2±11.6 16% above U.S. |
| Sutton and Brighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22%±3Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.3%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
18.3%±5.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Newark and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.9%±5.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.6%±2.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.2%±4.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Brighton and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
35.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
25.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.6%±0.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.3%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Townsend 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 U.S. |
$71,250±$18k 12% below U.S. |
$121,528±$23kHighest 51% above U.S. |
$47,375±$21kLowest 41% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $229,900±$23k 31% below U.S. |
$231,100±$41k 31% below U.S. |
$433,200±$22kHighest 30% above U.S. |
$163,900±$39kLowest 51% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,708±$97Highest 21% above U.S. |
— | $1,469±$313 4% above U.S. |
$775±$33Lowest 45% below U.S. |
| Newark and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,771 21% above U.S. |
$3,975 27% above U.S. |
$6,031Highest 93% above U.S. |
$3,360Lowest 8% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 7.1%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.8%±31.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
55%±17Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Brighton and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 22.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
22% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85% U.S.: 65.2% |
82% U.S.: 65.2% |
51.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest same as U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 28% above U.S. |
30 minLowest 12% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
33 min 25% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.8%±8.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.6%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.4%±8.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Newark and Brighton 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 | — | — | #136 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 | North Middlesex | Brighton School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | North Middlesex Regional | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 13.1 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.