Compare towns
Bristol vs Brighton vs Windsor
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bristol has the most expensive homes ($337k median).
Brighton has the most affordable homes ($164k median).
Windsor has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.2%).
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 | Bristol | Brighton | Windsor |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,778Highest |
1,167Lowest |
3,554 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.9% VT: +2.8% |
-5.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+0.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.9±4.8Highest 11% above VT |
45.2±11.6 5% above VT |
44.8±6.5Lowest 4% above VT |
| Bristol and Brighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 12.8%±3.5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.3%±5.7 VT: 17.9% |
19.5%±5.2Highest 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+ | 21.9%±4.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
27.2%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
29.7%±6.9Highest 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+ | 41.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
25.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
39.7% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±3.2Highest VT: 7% |
4.6%±2.4 VT: 7% |
0.7%±0.8Lowest VT: 7% |
| Bristol and Brighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $74,620±$8kHighest 8% below VT |
$47,375±$21kLowest 42% below VT |
$52,484±$11k 35% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $337,300±$46kHighest 7% above VT |
$163,900±$39kLowest 48% below VT |
$207,500±$31k 34% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,275±$181Highest 3% above VT |
$775±$33Lowest 37% below VT |
$1,026±$89 17% below VT |
| Bristol and Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,978Highest 19% above VT |
$3,360Lowest 33% below VT |
$5,209 3% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.9%±14.4 VT: 48.4% |
55%±17Highest VT: 48.4% |
31.5%±17Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Brighton and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.1% VT: 10.1% |
22%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
51.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
57.8% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest same as VT |
1967 9 yrs older than VT |
1945Lowest 31 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 5% above VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
23 minLowest 3% below VT |
| Work from home | 17.9%±6.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.4%±8.1 VT: 16.9% |
10.3%±5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Bristol 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 | #31 of 70 in VT | — | #61 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Mt. Abraham Unified School District #61 | Brighton School District | — |
| High school in town | Mt. Abraham Union High School | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.9 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.