Compare towns
Windsor vs Columbia 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%).
Columbia has the most homeowners (91.1%).
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 | Columbia | Brighton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,060Highest |
683Lowest |
1,167 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-12.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±12.3Lowest 15% above U.S. |
51.8±10.1Highest 33% above U.S. |
45.2±11.6 16% above U.S. |
| Columbia 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 U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.3%±5.7 U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
29.9%±8.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.2%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Columbia 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% |
14.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
25.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7%±3.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Columbia and Brighton 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. |
$57,917±$13kHighest 28% below U.S. |
$47,375±$21kLowest 41% below U.S. |
| Columbia and Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $170,300±$22k 49% below U.S. |
$196,400±$29kHighest 41% below U.S. |
$163,900±$39kLowest 51% below U.S. |
| Columbia 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 29% below U.S. |
$792±$333 44% below U.S. |
$775±$33Lowest 45% below U.S. |
| Windsor and Columbia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,878Highest 56% above U.S. |
$2,009Lowest 36% below U.S. |
$3,360 8% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.4%±20 U.S.: 51.1% |
9.1%±95.8Lowest 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%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
22%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 51.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
91.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
51.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 16% below U.S. |
20 minLowest 23% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 6.6%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.2%±6.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.4%±8.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Brighton and Columbia 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 | — | — | Brighton School District |
| High school in town | — | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.