Compare towns

Brighton vs Ogunquit vs Windsor vs Charleston

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Brighton has the most affordable homes ($164k median).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Windsor has the most kids (21.1% under 18).

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.

MeasureBrightonOgunquitWindsorCharleston
People
Population
1,167
1,379
2,060Highest
936Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-5.3%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+76.8%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+3.5%
U.S.: +7.4%
-0.2%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
45.2±11.6
16% above U.S.
62.8±4.8Highest
61% above U.S.
44.6±12.3Lowest
15% above U.S.
58.4±9.3
50% above U.S.
Ogunquit and Charleston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
18.3%±5.7
U.S.: 22%
5.7%±3.2Lowest
U.S.: 22%
21.1%±8.8Highest
U.S.: 22%
11.2%±4.2
U.S.: 22%
Windsor and Brighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
27.2%±4.6Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
43.6%±10.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
29.2%±8
U.S.: 17.2%
37.7%±8.6
U.S.: 17.2%
Ogunquit and Charleston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
25.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
63.5%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
40%
U.S.: 35.7%
13.6%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.6%±2.4Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.2%±2.8
U.S.: 6.4%
1.2%±1.4Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.7%±2.3
U.S.: 6.4%
Brighton and Ogunquit 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
41% below U.S.
$114,259±$56kHighest
42% above U.S.
$51,197±$4k
37% below U.S.
$49,286±$17k
39% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$163,900±$39kLowest
51% below U.S.
$875,700±$79kHighest
163% above U.S.
$170,300±$22k
49% below U.S.
$238,000±$53k
28% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$775±$33Lowest
45% below U.S.
—
$1,002±$107Highest
29% below U.S.
$979±$444
31% below U.S.
Windsor and Charleston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,360Lowest
8% above U.S.
$4,473
43% above U.S.
$4,878Highest
56% above U.S.
$3,750
20% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
55%±17Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
0%±61.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
31.4%±20
U.S.: 51.1%
32.7%±26.4
U.S.: 51.1%
Brighton and Charleston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
22%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
3.2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
7.8%
U.S.: 12.5%
12.3%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
51.1%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
94.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
51.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
87.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1967
13 yrs older than U.S.
1978
2 yrs older than U.S.
1938Lowest
42 yrs older than U.S.
1980Highest
same as U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
33 minHighest
25% above U.S.
26 min
about the U.S. average
22 minLowest
16% below U.S.
26 min
about the U.S. average
Work from home
12.4%±8.1
U.S.: 15.1%
43.3%±12.4Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
6.6%±4.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
18.7%±7.1
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading — — #61 of 70 in VT —
School district Brighton School District — — Charleston School District
High school in town None in town — — None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet None yet None yet None yet

U.S. 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.