Compare towns
Braintree 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
Braintree has the most homeowners (81%).
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.
| Measure | Braintree | Brighton | Windsor |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,026Lowest |
1,167 |
2,060Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1% VT: +2.8% |
-5.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 58.4±2.4Highest 35% above VT |
45.2±11.6 5% above VT |
44.6±12.3Lowest 3% above VT |
| Braintree and Brighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 12.3%±3.2Lowest 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+ | 33.2%±3.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
27.2%±4.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29.2%±8 VT: 21.4% |
| Braintree and Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.9% VT: 43.8% |
25.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
40%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1.3 VT: 7% |
4.6%±2.4Highest VT: 7% |
1.2%±1.4Lowest VT: 7% |
| Brighton and Braintree are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $79,803±$5kHighest about the VT average |
$47,375±$21kLowest 42% below VT |
$51,197±$4k 37% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $217,700±$28kHighest 31% below VT |
$163,900±$39kLowest 48% below VT |
$170,300±$22k 46% below VT |
| Braintree and Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $840±$405 32% below VT |
$775±$33Lowest 37% below VT |
$1,002±$107Highest 19% below VT |
| Windsor and Braintree are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,908 22% below VT |
$3,360Lowest 33% below VT |
$4,878Highest 3% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.4%±29.4 VT: 48.4% |
55%±17Highest VT: 48.4% |
31.4%±20Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Brighton and Braintree are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 11.1% VT: 10.1% |
22%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81%Highest VT: 73.2% |
51.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
51.6% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT |
1967 9 yrs older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 11% above VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
22 minLowest 6% below VT |
| Work from home | 19%±7.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.4%±8.1 VT: 16.9% |
6.6%±4.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Braintree 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 | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Brighton School District | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — |
| 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.