Compare towns
Newark vs Walden 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).
Walden has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.2%).
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 | Walden | Brighton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 727Lowest |
1,037 |
1,167Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.5% VT: +2.8% |
+2.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-5.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 41.4±6Lowest 4% below VT |
48.8±3.2Highest 13% above VT |
45.2±11.6 5% above VT |
| Walden 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% |
14.3%±3.9Lowest 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%±5.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
20.4%±2.6 VT: 21.4% |
27.2%±4.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Brighton and Walden 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% |
26.4% VT: 43.8% |
25.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.6%±0.6Lowest VT: 7% |
4%±2.1 VT: 7% |
4.6%±2.4Highest VT: 7% |
| Brighton and Walden 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 |
$88,000±$15kHighest 8% above VT |
$47,375±$21kLowest 42% below VT |
| Walden and Newark 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 |
$238,900±$23kHighest 25% below VT |
$163,900±$39kLowest 48% below VT |
| Walden 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±$136 27% below VT |
$775±$33Lowest 37% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,771 25% below VT |
$3,944Highest 22% below VT |
$3,360Lowest 33% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 7.1%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
56.3%±86.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
55%±17 VT: 48.4% |
| Walden 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% |
9.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
22% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.8% VT: 73.2% |
93.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
51.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
1967Lowest 9 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 44% above VT |
26 minLowest 10% above VT |
33 min 41% above VT |
| Work from home | 13.8%±8.2 VT: 16.9% |
21.4%±6.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.4%±8.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Walden 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 | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 | 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.