Compare towns
Windsor vs Amherst vs Brighton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Windsor has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Amherst has the most expensive homes ($538k median).
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 | Windsor | Amherst | Brighton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,060 |
11,861Highest |
1,167Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±12.3Lowest 15% above U.S. |
45.9±3.5Highest 18% above U.S. |
45.2±11.6 16% above U.S. |
| Amherst and Brighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.1%±8.8 U.S.: 22% |
22.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.3%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Amherst and Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 29.2%±8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.2%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.2%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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+ | 40% U.S.: 35.7% |
65.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
25.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Brighton and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $51,197±$4k 37% below U.S. |
$153,196±$10kHighest 90% above U.S. |
$47,375±$21kLowest 41% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $170,300±$22k 49% below U.S. |
$537,600±$30kHighest 62% above U.S. |
$163,900±$39kLowest 51% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,002±$107 29% below U.S. |
$1,462±$256Highest 3% above U.S. |
$775±$33Lowest 45% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,878 56% above U.S. |
$9,773Highest 213% above U.S. |
$3,360Lowest 8% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.4%±20Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
31.4%±9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55%±17Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Brighton and Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
22%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 51.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
91.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
51.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 16% below U.S. |
33 min 23% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 6.6%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±5.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.4%±8.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #61 of 70 in VT | #20 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | — | Amherst School District · Souhegan Cooperative School District | Brighton School District |
| High school in town | — | Souhegan Coop High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.4 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.