Compare towns
Newark vs Underhill vs Williston 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 homeowners (90.8%).
Underhill has the most kids (27.8% under 18).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
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 | Underhill | Williston | Brighton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 727Lowest |
3,141 |
10,144Highest |
1,167 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.5% VT: +2.8% |
+3.7% VT: +2.8% |
+16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-5.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 41.4±6 4% below VT |
38.1±11.4Lowest 12% below VT |
45.4±4.5Highest 5% above VT |
45.2±11.6 5% above VT |
| Williston 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% |
27.8%±10.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
20.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
18.3%±5.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Underhill and Newark 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% |
17.6%±6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
27.2%±4.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Brighton and Williston 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% |
50.1% VT: 43.8% |
54.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
25.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.6%±0.6Lowest VT: 7% |
3.5%±2 VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7Highest VT: 7% |
4.6%±2.4 VT: 7% |
| Williston 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 |
$92,267±$54k 14% above VT |
$106,967±$12kHighest 32% above VT |
$47,375±$21kLowest 42% below VT |
| Williston and Underhill 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 |
$446,000±$24k 41% above VT |
$475,800±$40kHighest 50% above VT |
$163,900±$39kLowest 48% below VT |
| Williston and Underhill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,708±$97 38% above VT |
— | $1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
$775±$33Lowest 37% below VT |
| Williston and Newark 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 |
$6,697Highest 33% above VT |
$5,592 11% above VT |
$3,360Lowest 33% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 7.1%±100 VT: 48.4% |
0%±18.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4 VT: 48.4% |
55%±17Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Brighton and Williston 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% |
6.4% VT: 10.1% |
4.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
22% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79.8% VT: 73.2% |
75.1% VT: 73.2% |
51.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
1967Lowest 9 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 44% above VT |
33 min 39% above VT |
20 minLowest 16% below VT |
33 min 41% above VT |
| Work from home | 13.8%±8.2 VT: 16.9% |
19.4%±11.3 VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.4%±8.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Williston and Underhill 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 | — | #2 of 70 in VT | #11 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Brighton School District |
| High school in town | None 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.