Compare towns
Brighton vs Townshend vs Windham vs Barton
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 renters (48.9% rent).
Townshend has the most people working from home (28%).
Windham has the most expensive homes ($354k median).
Barton has the most kids (24.1% 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 | Townshend | Windham | Barton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,167 |
1,538Highest |
594Lowest |
730 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.3% VT: +2.8% |
+4.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— | -6.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.2±11.6 5% above VT |
55.6±9.6Highest 29% above VT |
44.2±7.4 about the VT average |
40±5.5Lowest 7% below VT |
| Townshend 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% |
12%±2.6Lowest VT: 17.9% |
17.5%±7.9 VT: 17.9% |
24.1%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Barton and Brighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 27.2%±4.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.3%±6.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
23.2%±8.1 VT: 21.4% |
21.2%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Brighton and Windham 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% |
52.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48.1% VT: 43.8% |
21.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.6%±2.4Highest VT: 7% |
1.4%±0.8 VT: 7% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
1.9%±1.6 VT: 7% |
| Brighton and Barton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $47,375±$21k 42% below VT |
$78,750±$29k 3% below VT |
$94,500±$12kHighest 16% above VT |
$40,833±$8kLowest 50% below VT |
| Windham and Townshend 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 |
$287,200±$79k 9% below VT |
$353,900±$20kHighest 12% above VT |
$146,900±$30kLowest 54% below VT |
| Windham and Townshend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $775±$33 37% below VT |
$1,074±$80Highest 13% below VT |
— | $761±$150Lowest 38% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,360 33% below VT |
$5,364 6% above VT |
$5,951Highest 18% above VT |
$3,185Lowest 37% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55%±17 VT: 48.4% |
72.5%±23.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
41.2%±94Lowest VT: 48.4% |
58.8%±18.2 VT: 48.4% |
| Townshend and Barton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 22% VT: 10.1% |
8.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
9.9% VT: 10.1% |
25.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 51.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
82.6% VT: 73.2% |
82.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
52.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967 9 yrs older than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1945Lowest 31 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 41% above VT |
25 minLowest 6% above VT |
27 min 14% above VT |
31 min 32% above VT |
| Work from home | 12.4%±8.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
28%±18.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
20.5%±5.6 VT: 16.9% |
16.5%±10.4 VT: 16.9% |
| Townshend and Windham 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 | — | — | — | #38 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Brighton School District | West River Valley Union Education District #72B · West River Valley Union Education District #72A | — | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Leland & Gray Union Middle & High School | — | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.1 |
— | — |
| 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.