Compare towns
Brighton vs Jay 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).
Jay has the most people working from home (27.3%).
Windsor has the shortest commute (22 min average).
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 | Jay | Windsor |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,167 |
471Lowest |
2,060Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+3.5% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.2±11.6 5% above VT |
52.1±10.5Highest 21% above VT |
44.6±12.3Lowest 3% above VT |
| Jay and Brighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.3%±5.7 VT: 17.9% |
14.2%±7.3Lowest 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+ | 27.2%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
15.5%±6.3Lowest 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+ | 25.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
45.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
40% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±2.4Highest VT: 7% |
1.9%±2.5 VT: 7% |
1.2%±1.4Lowest VT: 7% |
| Brighton and Jay 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 |
$74,792±$25kHighest 8% below VT |
$51,197±$4k 37% below VT |
| Jay 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 |
$234,200±$45kHighest 26% below VT |
$170,300±$22k 46% below VT |
| Jay 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 |
— | $1,002±$107Highest 19% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,360Lowest 33% below VT |
$3,588 29% below VT |
$4,878Highest 3% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55%±17Highest VT: 48.4% |
40%±100 VT: 48.4% |
31.4%±20Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Brighton and Jay 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% |
8.7% VT: 10.1% |
7.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 51.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
51.6% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 9 yrs older than VT |
2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 41% above VT |
40 minHighest 69% above VT |
22 minLowest 6% below VT |
| Work from home | 12.4%±8.1 VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.6%±4.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Jay 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 | Brighton School District | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary 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.