Compare towns
Brighton vs Thornton vs Windsor
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).
Thornton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.8%).
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.
| Measure | Brighton | Thornton | Windsor |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,167Lowest |
2,799Highest |
2,060 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.2±11.6 16% above U.S. |
51.1±3.4Highest 31% above U.S. |
44.6±12.3Lowest 15% above U.S. |
| Thornton 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 U.S.: 22% |
13.9%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±8.8Highest 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%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
19%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
29.2%±8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
46.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
40% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Thornton 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 41% below U.S. |
$90,022±$17kHighest 12% above U.S. |
$51,197±$4k 37% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $163,900±$39kLowest 51% below U.S. |
$351,900±$20kHighest 6% above U.S. |
$170,300±$22k 49% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $775±$33Lowest 45% below U.S. |
$1,270±$428Highest 10% below U.S. |
$1,002±$107 29% below U.S. |
| Thornton and Windsor 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. |
$5,032Highest 61% above U.S. |
$4,878 56% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55%±17 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.7%±24.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
31.4%±20Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Thornton and Brighton 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% |
9.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 51.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
51.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
23 min 14% below U.S. |
22 minLowest 16% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.4%±8.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
29.8%±9.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.6%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Thornton 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 | — | #18 of 120 in NH | #61 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Brighton School District | Thornton School District | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.