Compare towns

Bennington vs Brighton vs Windsor

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Bennington has the most expensive homes ($213k median).
Brighton has the most affordable homes ($164k median).
Windsor has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.5%).

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.

MeasureBenningtonBrightonWindsor
People
Population
15,249Highest
1,167Lowest
2,060
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-2.7%
VT: +2.8%
-5.3%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
+3.5%Highest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
44.7±2.3
4% above VT
45.2±11.6Highest
5% above VT
44.6±12.3Lowest
3% above VT
Brighton and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
17.7%±2.3Lowest
VT: 17.9%
18.3%±5.7
VT: 17.9%
21.1%±8.8Highest
VT: 17.9%
Windsor and Brighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
25.2%±2.8Lowest
VT: 21.4%
27.2%±4.6
VT: 21.4%
29.2%±8Highest
VT: 21.4%
Windsor and Brighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
36.9%
VT: 43.8%
25.9%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
40%Highest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.8%±1.6Highest
VT: 7%
4.6%±2.4
VT: 7%
1.2%±1.4Lowest
VT: 7%
Bennington and Brighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$59,446±$7kHighest
27% below VT
$47,375±$21kLowest
42% below VT
$51,197±$4k
37% below VT
Bennington and Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$213,300±$15kHighest
33% below VT
$163,900±$39kLowest
48% below VT
$170,300±$22k
46% below VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,133±$63Highest
8% below VT
$775±$33Lowest
37% below VT
$1,002±$107
19% below VT
Bennington and Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,513
10% below VT
$3,360Lowest
33% below VT
$4,878Highest
3% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
68.8%±14.1Highest
VT: 48.4%
55%±17
VT: 48.4%
31.4%±20Lowest
VT: 48.4%
Bennington and Brighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
13.2%
VT: 10.1%
22%Highest
VT: 10.1%
7.8%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
58.4%Highest
VT: 73.2%
51.1%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
51.6%
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1961
15 yrs older than VT
1967Highest
9 yrs older than VT
1938Lowest
38 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
17 minLowest
27% below VT
33 minHighest
41% above VT
22 min
6% below VT
Work from home
15.1%±4.4Highest
VT: 16.9%
12.4%±8.1
VT: 16.9%
6.6%±4.7Lowest
VT: 16.9%
Bennington 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 #58 of 70 in VT — #61 of 70 in VT
School district Southwest Tech · Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 Brighton School District —
High school in town Mt. Anthony Senior Union High School None in town —
Students per teacherat that high school
14.7
— —
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.