Compare towns
Newark vs Whiting vs Mendon vs Brighton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Whiting has the most kids (23.5% under 18).
Mendon has the most people working from home (22.5%).
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 | Whiting | Mendon | Brighton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 727 |
532Lowest |
1,113 |
1,167Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.5% VT: +2.8% |
— | +8.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-5.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 41.4±6 4% below VT |
39.6±2.7Lowest 8% below VT |
53.4±10.5Highest 24% above VT |
45.2±11.6 5% above VT |
| Mendon 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% |
23.5%±6.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±5.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.3%±5.7 VT: 17.9% |
| Whiting 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% |
13%±5.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29%±1.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
27.2%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
| Mendon 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% |
25.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
49.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
25.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.6%±0.6Lowest VT: 7% |
6.2%±4Highest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
4.6%±2.4 VT: 7% |
| Whiting 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 |
$91,250±$38k 12% above VT |
$100,524±$23kHighest 24% above VT |
$47,375±$21kLowest 42% below VT |
| Mendon and Whiting 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 |
$280,400±$36k 11% below VT |
$357,000±$44kHighest 13% above VT |
$163,900±$39kLowest 48% below VT |
| Mendon and Whiting 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 |
$1,204±$519 about the VT average |
$1,230±$651 about the VT average |
$775±$33Lowest 37% below VT |
| Newark and Mendon 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 |
$4,227 16% below VT |
$5,342Highest 6% above VT |
$3,360Lowest 33% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 7.1%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
58.3%±37.3 VT: 48.4% |
88.6%±42.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
55%±17 VT: 48.4% |
| Mendon and Whiting 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% |
11.5% VT: 10.1% |
8.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
22% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.8% VT: 73.2% |
65.4% VT: 73.2% |
92.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
51.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1967Lowest 9 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 44% above VT |
22 min 7% below VT |
17 minLowest 28% below VT |
33 min 41% above VT |
| Work from home | 13.8%±8.2 VT: 16.9% |
10%±5.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.5%±8.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.4%±8.1 VT: 16.9% |
| Mendon 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 | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 | — | 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.