Compare towns
Appleton vs Brighton vs Windsor vs Penobscot
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Appleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).
Brighton has the most affordable homes ($164k median).
Windsor has the most kids (21.1% under 18).
Penobscot has the most people working from home (17.7%).
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 | Appleton | Brighton | Windsor | Penobscot |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,360 |
1,167 |
2,060Highest |
1,154Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-10.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4 26% above U.S. |
45.2±11.6 16% above U.S. |
44.6±12.3Lowest 15% above U.S. |
53.4±5.7Highest 37% above U.S. |
| Penobscot and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.3%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.3%±5.7 U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±8.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
18%±6 U.S.: 22% |
| Windsor and Brighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26.1%±9.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.2%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
29.2%±8 U.S.: 17.2% |
32%±4.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Penobscot and Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
25.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
40%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.2%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Brighton and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $53,618±$19k 34% below U.S. |
$47,375±$21kLowest 41% below U.S. |
$51,197±$4k 37% below U.S. |
$63,194±$14kHighest 22% below U.S. |
| Penobscot and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $235,600±$33k 29% below U.S. |
$163,900±$39kLowest 51% below U.S. |
$170,300±$22k 49% below U.S. |
$296,400±$58kHighest 11% below U.S. |
| Penobscot and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,104±$82 22% below U.S. |
$775±$33Lowest 45% below U.S. |
$1,002±$107 29% below U.S. |
$1,141±$33Highest 19% below U.S. |
| Penobscot and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,588 15% above U.S. |
$3,360 8% above U.S. |
$4,878Highest 56% above U.S. |
$1,852Lowest 41% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
55%±17 U.S.: 51.1% |
31.4%±20Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
73.9%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Appleton and Penobscot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
22%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
16% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
51.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
51.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 14% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 16% below U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.4%±8.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.6%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±13.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Penobscot and Brighton 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 | — | — | #61 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Appleton Public Schools | Brighton School District | — | Penobscot Public Schools |
| 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 |
U.S. 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.