Compare towns
Putney vs Windsor vs Brighton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Putney has the highest household income ($80k).
Windsor has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.2%).
Brighton has the most affordable homes ($164k 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 | Putney | Windsor | Brighton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,622 |
3,554Highest |
1,167Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1% VT: +2.8% |
+0.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-5.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
44.8±6.5 4% above VT |
45.2±11.6Highest 5% above VT |
| Brighton and Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.4%±4.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
19.5%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.3%±5.7 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+ | 18.1%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29.7%±6.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
27.2%±4.6 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+ | 48.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
39.7% VT: 43.8% |
25.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
0.7%±0.8Lowest VT: 7% |
4.6%±2.4 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $79,706±$18kHighest about the VT average |
$52,484±$11k 35% below VT |
$47,375±$21kLowest 42% below VT |
| Putney and Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $300,000±$44kHighest 5% below VT |
$207,500±$31k 34% below VT |
$163,900±$39kLowest 48% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
$1,026±$89Highest 17% below VT |
$775±$33 37% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,313Highest 5% above VT |
$5,209 3% above VT |
$3,360Lowest 33% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.2%±19.4 VT: 48.4% |
31.5%±17Lowest VT: 48.4% |
55%±17Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Brighton and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 16% VT: 10.1% |
7.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
22%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
57.8% VT: 73.2% |
51.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 1 yr newer than VT |
1945Lowest 31 yrs older than VT |
1967 9 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 24% below VT |
23 min 3% below VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
| Work from home | 16.9%±6.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
10.3%±5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
12.4%±8.1 VT: 16.9% |
| Putney 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 | #32 of 70 in VT | #61 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | — | Brighton School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.