Compare towns
Newark vs Sutton vs Wells River 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 the most kids (22% under 18).
Sutton has the shortest commute (30 min average).
Wells River has the most renters (52.1% rent).
Brighton has the most affordable homes ($164k median).
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 | Wells River | Brighton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 727 |
790 |
340Lowest |
1,167Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-11.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— | -5.3% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 41.4±6Lowest 4% below VT |
46.6±5.7Highest 8% above VT |
42.7±12.7 about the VT average |
45.2±11.6 5% above VT |
| 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 VT: 17.9% |
17.3%±3.4 VT: 17.9% |
17.1%±6.5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.3%±5.7 VT: 17.9% |
| Newark and Brighton 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% |
21.6%±2.7 VT: 21.4% |
19.4%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
27.2%±4.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
| 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 VT: 43.8% |
32.8% VT: 43.8% |
16.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
25.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.6%±0.6Lowest VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.8 VT: 7% |
0.6%±3.1Lowest VT: 7% |
4.6%±2.4Highest VT: 7% |
| Brighton and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $72,929±$7kHighest 10% below VT |
$71,250±$18k 12% below VT |
$38,688±$5kLowest 52% below VT |
$47,375±$21k 42% below VT |
| Newark and Sutton 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 |
$231,100±$41kHighest 27% below VT |
$170,800±$103k 46% below VT |
$163,900±$39kLowest 48% below VT |
| Sutton and Newark 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 |
— | $900±$336 27% below VT |
$775±$33Lowest 37% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,771 25% below VT |
$3,975 21% below VT |
$4,154Highest 18% below VT |
$3,360Lowest 33% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 7.1%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
37.8%±31.1 VT: 48.4% |
47.6%±14.8 VT: 48.4% |
55%±17Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Brighton and Wells River are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 22.4% VT: 10.1% |
12.4%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
38.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
22% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
85% VT: 73.2% |
47.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
51.1% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1967 9 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 44% above VT |
30 minLowest 26% above VT |
34 min 43% above VT |
33 min 41% above VT |
| Work from home | 13.8%±8.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
11.6%±5.3 VT: 16.9% |
5.2%±9.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
12.4%±8.1 VT: 16.9% |
| Newark and Brighton 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 | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 | — | 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 | 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.