Compare towns
Brighton vs Dummerston vs Middlesex 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).
Dummerston has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Middlesex has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.8%).
Windsor has the oldest housing (typical home built 1945).
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 | Dummerston | Middlesex | Windsor |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,167Lowest |
2,090 |
1,943 |
3,554Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+0.1% VT: +2.8% |
+2.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+0.2% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.2±11.6 5% above VT |
45.6±11.7Highest 6% above VT |
44.4±3.9Lowest 3% above VT |
44.8±6.5 4% above VT |
| Dummerston and Brighton 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% |
21.7%±6Highest VT: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.1 VT: 17.9% |
19.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Dummerston and Middlesex 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% |
24.3%±3 VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±3.7Lowest 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% |
58.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
54.7% VT: 43.8% |
39.7% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±2.4 VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.1 VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
0.7%±0.8Lowest VT: 7% |
| Middlesex and Brighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $47,375±$21kLowest 42% below VT |
$101,696±$21k 25% above VT |
$109,632±$13kHighest 35% above VT |
$52,484±$11k 35% below VT |
| Middlesex and Dummerston 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 |
$335,300±$22k 6% above VT |
$376,300±$40kHighest 19% above VT |
$207,500±$31k 34% below VT |
| Middlesex and Dummerston 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 |
$1,392±$126Highest 13% above VT |
$1,333±$359 8% above VT |
$1,026±$89 17% below VT |
| Dummerston and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,360Lowest 33% below VT |
$4,536 10% below VT |
$6,483Highest 29% above VT |
$5,209 3% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55%±17Highest VT: 48.4% |
44.1%±32.2 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
31.5%±17 VT: 48.4% |
| Brighton and Dummerston 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% |
4.5% VT: 10.1% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
7.8% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 51.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.9% VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
57.8% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 9 yrs older than VT |
1971 5 yrs older than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1945Lowest 31 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 41% above VT |
21 minLowest 11% below VT |
27 min 17% above VT |
23 min 3% below VT |
| Work from home | 12.4%±8.1 VT: 16.9% |
25.9%±10.3 VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
10.3%±5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Middlesex and Dummerston 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 | Brighton School District | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.