Compare towns
Windsor vs Athol vs Windsor 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.5%).
Athol has the highest household income ($69k).
Brighton has the most people working from home (12.4%).
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 | Athol | Windsor | Brighton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,060 |
12,011Highest |
3,554 |
1,167Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±12.3 15% above U.S. |
41.3±1.9Lowest 6% above U.S. |
44.8±6.5 15% above U.S. |
45.2±11.6Highest 16% above U.S. |
| Brighton and Windsor 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% |
21.8%±3.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.5%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
18.3%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Athol and Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 29.2%±8 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.3%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
29.7%±6.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.2%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Windsor and Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
20.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
25.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.2%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.7%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Brighton and Athol 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. |
$69,316±$5kHighest 14% below U.S. |
$52,484±$11k 35% below U.S. |
$47,375±$21kLowest 41% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $170,300±$22k 49% below U.S. |
$268,100±$13kHighest 19% below U.S. |
$207,500±$31k 38% below U.S. |
$163,900±$39kLowest 51% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,002±$107 29% below U.S. |
$1,150±$182Highest 19% below U.S. |
$1,026±$89 27% below U.S. |
$775±$33Lowest 45% below U.S. |
| Athol and Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,878 56% above U.S. |
$3,403 9% above U.S. |
$5,209Highest 67% above U.S. |
$3,360Lowest 8% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.4%±20Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.5%±17.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
31.5%±17 U.S.: 51.1% |
55%±17 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Athol and Brighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
16.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
22%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 51.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
72.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
57.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
51.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1953 27 yrs older than U.S. |
1945 35 yrs older than U.S. |
1967Highest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 16% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
23 min 14% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 6.6%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.6%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.3%±5 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.4%±8.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Brighton and Athol 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 | #256 of 282 in MA | #61 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | — | Athol-Royalston | — | Brighton School District |
| High school in town | — | Athol High | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.6 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 12 photos → | 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.