Compare towns
Windham vs Brighton vs Townshend vs Andover
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Windham has the youngest population (median age 44.2).
Brighton has the most affordable homes ($164k median).
Townshend has the oldest population (median age 55.6).
Andover has the highest household income ($103k).
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 | Windham | Brighton | Townshend | Andover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 594Lowest |
1,167 |
1,538Highest |
616 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -5.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+4.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 44.2±7.4Lowest about the VT average |
45.2±11.6 5% above VT |
55.6±9.6Highest 29% above VT |
49.2±5.1 14% above VT |
| Townshend and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.5%±7.9 VT: 17.9% |
18.3%±5.7Highest VT: 17.9% |
12%±2.6 VT: 17.9% |
11.5%±4.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Brighton and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 23.2%±8.1 VT: 21.4% |
27.2%±4.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.3%±6.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.7%±4.3 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+ | 48.1% VT: 43.8% |
25.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
52.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
43.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.8%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
4.6%±2.4Highest VT: 7% |
1.4%±0.8 VT: 7% |
2.8%±1.5 VT: 7% |
| Brighton and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $94,500±$12k 16% above VT |
$47,375±$21kLowest 42% below VT |
$78,750±$29k 3% below VT |
$102,500±$38kHighest 26% above VT |
| Andover and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $353,900±$20k 12% above VT |
$163,900±$39kLowest 48% below VT |
$287,200±$79k 9% below VT |
$382,900±$68kHighest 21% above VT |
| Andover and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $775±$33Lowest 37% below VT |
$1,074±$80 13% below VT |
$1,389±$364Highest 13% above VT |
| Andover and Townshend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,951Highest 18% above VT |
$3,360Lowest 33% below VT |
$5,364 6% above VT |
$5,190 about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.2%±94Lowest VT: 48.4% |
55%±17 VT: 48.4% |
72.5%±23.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
69.4%±47.1 VT: 48.4% |
| Townshend and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.9% VT: 10.1% |
22%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.1% VT: 10.1% |
4.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
51.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
82.6% VT: 73.2% |
82.8% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1967Lowest 9 yrs older than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 14% above VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
25 minLowest 6% above VT |
25 min 7% above VT |
| Work from home | 20.5%±5.6 VT: 16.9% |
12.4%±8.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
28%±18.7 VT: 16.9% |
29.6%±12.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Andover and Townshend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| 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.