Compare towns
Windsor vs Charleston 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%).
Charleston has the most homeowners (87.1%).
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 | Charleston | Brighton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,060Highest |
936Lowest |
1,167 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.2% VT: +2.8% |
-5.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.6±12.3Lowest 3% above VT |
58.4±9.3Highest 35% above VT |
45.2±11.6 5% above VT |
| Charleston and Brighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.1%±8.8Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.2%±4.2Lowest 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+ | 29.2%±8 VT: 21.4% |
37.7%±8.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
27.2%±4.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Charleston 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 VT: 43.8% |
13.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
25.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.2%±1.4Lowest VT: 7% |
3.7%±2.3 VT: 7% |
4.6%±2.4Highest VT: 7% |
| Brighton and Charleston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $51,197±$4kHighest 37% below VT |
$49,286±$17k 39% below VT |
$47,375±$21kLowest 42% below VT |
| Windsor and Charleston 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 |
$238,000±$53kHighest 25% below VT |
$163,900±$39kLowest 48% below VT |
| Charleston and Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,002±$107Highest 19% below VT |
$979±$444 21% below VT |
$775±$33Lowest 37% below VT |
| Windsor and Charleston 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 |
$3,750 26% below VT |
$3,360Lowest 33% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.4%±20Lowest VT: 48.4% |
32.7%±26.4 VT: 48.4% |
55%±17Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Brighton and Charleston 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% |
12.3% VT: 10.1% |
22%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 51.6% VT: 73.2% |
87.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
51.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1967 9 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 6% below VT |
26 min 12% above VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
| Work from home | 6.6%±4.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
18.7%±7.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.4%±8.1 VT: 16.9% |
| Charleston 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 | — | Charleston School District | Brighton School District |
| High school in town | — | None 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.