Compare towns
Newark vs Westminster vs Ripton 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 youngest population (median age 41.4).
Westminster has the most people working from home (23.1%).
Ripton has the highest household income ($113k).
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 | Westminster | Ripton | Brighton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 727 |
497Lowest |
508 |
1,167Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.5% VT: +2.8% |
— | +25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-5.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 41.4±6Lowest 4% below VT |
43.3±11.5 about the VT average |
47.7±14.2Highest 11% above VT |
45.2±11.6 5% above VT |
| Ripton 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% |
28.4%±7.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.3%±5.7 VT: 17.9% |
| Westminster 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% |
19.7%±11.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
27.2%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Brighton 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% |
45.4% VT: 43.8% |
48%Highest VT: 43.8% |
25.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.6%±0.6Lowest VT: 7% |
2.2%±3.5 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
4.6%±2.4 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $72,929±$7k 10% below VT |
$81,000±$22k about the VT average |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$47,375±$21kLowest 42% below VT |
| Ripton and Westminster 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 |
$313,600±$39k about the VT average |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$163,900±$39kLowest 48% below VT |
| Ripton and Westminster 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 |
$749±$315Lowest 39% below VT |
— | $775±$33 37% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,771 25% below VT |
$4,480 11% below VT |
$4,915Highest about the VT average |
$3,360Lowest 33% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 7.1%±100 VT: 48.4% |
6.1%±43.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
55%±17Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Brighton and Ripton 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% |
2.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
22% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.8% VT: 73.2% |
80.1% VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
51.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1967 9 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 44% above VT |
30 min 26% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
33 min 41% above VT |
| Work from home | 13.8%±8.2 VT: 16.9% |
23.1%±15.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
12.4%±8.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Westminster and Ripton 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 | — | #53 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 | — | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | 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.