Compare towns
Windsor vs Castleton vs Northfield vs Brighton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Windsor has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.5%).
Castleton has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Northfield has the most expensive homes ($274k 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 | Castleton | Northfield | Brighton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,060 |
4,453 |
5,920Highest |
1,167Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-4.7% VT: +2.8% |
-5.3% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.6±12.3 3% above VT |
38.3±4.3 11% below VT |
36.4±4.1Lowest 16% below 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 | 21.1%±8.8Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±3.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.3%±5.7 VT: 17.9% |
| Windsor and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 29.2%±8Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
20%±3.8Lowest 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+ | 40%Highest VT: 43.8% |
37.9% VT: 43.8% |
34.6% VT: 43.8% |
25.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.2%±1.4Lowest VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
15.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
4.6%±2.4 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $51,197±$4k 37% below VT |
$73,854±$23kHighest 9% below VT |
$71,768±$13k 12% below VT |
$47,375±$21kLowest 42% below VT |
| Castleton and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $170,300±$22k 46% below VT |
$224,800±$71k 29% below VT |
$274,400±$21kHighest 13% below VT |
$163,900±$39kLowest 48% below VT |
| Northfield and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,002±$107 19% below VT |
$1,137±$195Highest 8% below VT |
$1,018±$207 18% below VT |
$775±$33Lowest 37% below VT |
| Castleton and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,878Highest 3% below VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$4,878Highest 3% below VT |
$3,360 33% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.4%±20Lowest VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±17.7 VT: 48.4% |
55%±17 VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
12.5% VT: 10.1% |
12.5% VT: 10.1% |
22%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 51.6% VT: 73.2% |
79%Highest VT: 73.2% |
73.5% VT: 73.2% |
51.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1974Highest 2 yrs older than VT |
1956 20 yrs older than VT |
1967 9 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 6% below VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
27 min 16% above VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
| Work from home | 6.6%±4.7 VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
12.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
12.4%±8.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Brighton and Northfield 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 | #39 of 70 in VT | #42 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | — | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 | Brighton School District |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Northfield Middle/High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.0 |
— |
| 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.