Compare towns
Brighton vs Castleton vs Windsor
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Brighton has the most affordable homes ($164k median).
Castleton has the highest household income ($74k).
Windsor has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.2%).
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 | Brighton | Castleton | Windsor |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,167Lowest |
4,453Highest |
3,554 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.3% VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+0.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.2±11.6Highest 5% above VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
44.8±6.5 4% above VT |
| Brighton and Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.3%±5.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
19.5%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Windsor and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27.2%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29.7%±6.9Highest 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+ | 25.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
37.9% VT: 43.8% |
39.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±2.4 VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
0.7%±0.8Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $47,375±$21kLowest 42% below VT |
$73,854±$23kHighest 9% below VT |
$52,484±$11k 35% below VT |
| Castleton and Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $163,900±$39kLowest 48% below VT |
$224,800±$71kHighest 29% below VT |
$207,500±$31k 34% below VT |
| Castleton and Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $775±$33Lowest 37% below VT |
$1,137±$195Highest 8% below VT |
$1,026±$89 17% below VT |
| Castleton and Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,360 33% below VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$5,209Highest 3% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55%±17 VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
31.5%±17Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Brighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 22%Highest VT: 10.1% |
12.5% VT: 10.1% |
7.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 51.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
79%Highest VT: 73.2% |
57.8% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 9 yrs older than VT |
1974Highest 2 yrs older than VT |
1945Lowest 31 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 41% above VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
23 min 3% below VT |
| Work from home | 12.4%±8.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
10.3%±5 VT: 16.9% |
| Brighton and Windsor 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 | — | #39 of 70 in VT | #61 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Brighton School District | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → |
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.