Compare towns
Wilder 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
Wilder has grown the fastest since 2010 (+81.7%).
Windsor has the most kids (19.5% under 18).
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 | Wilder | Windsor | Brighton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,087 |
3,554Highest |
1,167Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +81.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+0.2% VT: +2.8% |
-5.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.5±8.9Highest 6% above VT |
44.8±6.5Lowest 4% above VT |
45.2±11.6 5% above VT |
| Wilder and Brighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 11.8%±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+ | 27.3%±4.4 VT: 21.4% |
29.7%±6.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
27.2%±4.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Windsor and Wilder are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 60.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
39.7% VT: 43.8% |
25.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.1%±3.9Highest VT: 7% |
0.7%±0.8Lowest VT: 7% |
4.6%±2.4 VT: 7% |
| Wilder and Brighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $75,143±$9kHighest 7% below VT |
$52,484±$11k 35% below VT |
$47,375±$21kLowest 42% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $273,200±$18kHighest 14% below VT |
$207,500±$31k 34% below VT |
$163,900±$39kLowest 48% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,142±$451Highest 7% below VT |
$1,026±$89 17% below VT |
$775±$33Lowest 37% below VT |
| Wilder and Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,505Highest 9% above VT |
$5,209 3% above VT |
$3,360Lowest 33% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.9%±17.2 VT: 48.4% |
31.5%±17Lowest VT: 48.4% |
55%±17Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Brighton and Wilder are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.3% VT: 10.1% |
7.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
22%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 62.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
57.8% VT: 73.2% |
51.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
1945Lowest 31 yrs older than VT |
1967 9 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 29% below VT |
23 min 3% below VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
| Work from home | 12.6%±6.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
10.3%±5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
12.4%±8.1 VT: 16.9% |
| Wilder 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 | — | #61 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | — | — | Brighton School District |
| High school in town | — | — | None in town |
| 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.