Compare towns
Newark vs Townshend vs Windham 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).
Townshend has the most people working from home (28%).
Windham has the most expensive homes ($354k 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 | Townshend | Windham | Brighton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 727 |
1,538Highest |
594Lowest |
1,167 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.5% VT: +2.8% |
+4.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— | -5.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 41.4±6Lowest 4% below VT |
55.6±9.6Highest 29% above VT |
44.2±7.4 about the VT average |
45.2±11.6 5% above VT |
| Townshend 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% |
12%±2.6Lowest VT: 17.9% |
17.5%±7.9 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% |
19.3%±6.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
23.2%±8.1 VT: 21.4% |
27.2%±4.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Brighton and Windham 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% |
52.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48.1% VT: 43.8% |
25.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.6%±0.6Lowest VT: 7% |
1.4%±0.8 VT: 7% |
0.8%±1.1 VT: 7% |
4.6%±2.4Highest VT: 7% |
| Brighton and Townshend 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 |
$78,750±$29k 3% below VT |
$94,500±$12kHighest 16% above VT |
$47,375±$21kLowest 42% below VT |
| Windham and Townshend 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 |
$287,200±$79k 9% below VT |
$353,900±$20kHighest 12% above VT |
$163,900±$39kLowest 48% below VT |
| Windham and Townshend 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 |
$1,074±$80 13% below VT |
— | $775±$33Lowest 37% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,771 25% below VT |
$5,364 6% above VT |
$5,951Highest 18% above VT |
$3,360Lowest 33% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 7.1%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
72.5%±23.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
41.2%±94 VT: 48.4% |
55%±17 VT: 48.4% |
| Townshend 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% |
8.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
9.9% VT: 10.1% |
22% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
82.6% VT: 73.2% |
82.9% VT: 73.2% |
51.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1967Lowest 9 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 44% above VT |
25 minLowest 6% above VT |
27 min 14% above VT |
33 min 41% above VT |
| Work from home | 13.8%±8.2 VT: 16.9% |
28%±18.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
20.5%±5.6 VT: 16.9% |
12.4%±8.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Townshend and Windham 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 | West River Valley Union Education District #72B · West River Valley Union Education District #72A | — | Brighton School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Leland & Gray Union Middle & High School | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.1 |
— | — |
| 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.