Compare towns
Brighton vs Springfield vs Windsor vs Orleans
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 oldest population (median age 45.2).
Springfield has the most people working from home (15.1%).
Windsor has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.5%).
Orleans has the most affordable homes ($156k median).
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 | Springfield | Windsor | Orleans |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,167 |
9,084Highest |
2,060 |
809Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-3.3% VT: +2.8% |
+3.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.7% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.2±11.6Highest 5% above VT |
43.2±3.7 about the VT average |
44.6±12.3 3% above VT |
41.7±5.8Lowest 3% below 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%±5.7 VT: 17.9% |
18.6%±3.4 VT: 17.9% |
21.1%±8.8Highest VT: 17.9% |
17.9%±4.5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Windsor and Springfield 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% |
23.6%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
29.2%±8Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.7%±3.2Lowest 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% VT: 43.8% |
23.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
40%Highest VT: 43.8% |
24.8% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±2.4Highest VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.4 VT: 7% |
1.2%±1.4Lowest VT: 7% |
3.7%±2.1 VT: 7% |
| Brighton and Orleans 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 |
$66,571±$13kHighest 18% below VT |
$51,197±$4k 37% below VT |
$57,159±$10k 30% below VT |
| Springfield and Orleans are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $163,900±$39k 48% below VT |
$192,400±$20kHighest 39% below VT |
$170,300±$22k 46% below VT |
$156,300±$18kLowest 51% below VT |
| Springfield 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 |
$963±$100 22% below VT |
$1,002±$107Highest 19% below VT |
$810±$94 34% below VT |
| Windsor and Springfield 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 |
$4,807 5% below VT |
$4,878Highest 3% below VT |
$3,019Lowest 40% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55%±17Highest VT: 48.4% |
49.6%±15.6 VT: 48.4% |
31.4%±20 VT: 48.4% |
27.3%±17.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Brighton and Springfield 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% |
14.8% VT: 10.1% |
7.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 51.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
67.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
51.6% VT: 73.2% |
64.1% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Highest 9 yrs older than VT |
1958 18 yrs older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 41% above VT |
27 min 16% above VT |
22 minLowest 6% below VT |
31 min 33% above VT |
| Work from home | 12.4%±8.1 VT: 16.9% |
15.1%±5.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.6%±4.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
8.3%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Springfield 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 | — | #64 of 70 in VT | #61 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Brighton School District | River Valley Technical Center · Springfield School District | — | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Springfield High School | — | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.3 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 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.