Compare towns
White River Junction vs Newport vs Brighton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
White River Junction has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.8%).
Newport has the most homeowners (57.6%).
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 | White River Junction | Newport | Brighton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,364 |
4,394Highest |
1,167Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.9% VT: +2.8% |
-5.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 33.7±3.2Lowest 22% below VT |
46.4±4.3Highest 8% above VT |
45.2±11.6 5% above VT |
| Newport and Brighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.1%±5 VT: 17.9% |
13.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.3%±5.7Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Brighton and White River Junction are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 12.5%±3.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
25.8%±4.7 VT: 21.4% |
27.2%±4.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Brighton and Newport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 38.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
25.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
25.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.2%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
2.8%±1.5 VT: 7% |
4.6%±2.4Highest VT: 7% |
| Brighton and Newport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $77,168±$4kHighest 5% below VT |
$54,646±$12k 33% below VT |
$47,375±$21kLowest 42% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $278,800±$78kHighest 12% below VT |
$179,400±$11k 43% below VT |
$163,900±$39kLowest 48% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,222±$216Highest about the VT average |
$850±$49 31% below VT |
$775±$33Lowest 37% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,651Highest 12% above VT |
$4,036 20% below VT |
$3,360Lowest 33% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.9%±17.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
48.2%±15.8 VT: 48.4% |
55%±17Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Brighton and Newport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 12.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
23%Highest VT: 10.1% |
22% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 43.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
57.6%Highest VT: 73.2% |
51.1% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963Lowest 13 yrs older than VT |
1966 10 yrs older than VT |
1967Highest 9 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 15 min 35% below VT |
15 minLowest 38% below VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
| Work from home | 15.7%±5.8 VT: 16.9% |
16.8%±8.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.4%±8.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Newport and White River Junction 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 | — | #63 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | — | Newport City School District · North Country Union High School District | Brighton School District |
| High school in town | — | North Country Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.7 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.