Compare towns

Windsor vs Exeter 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%).
Exeter has the most homeowners (97.7%).
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.

MeasureWindsorExeterBrighton
People
Population
2,060Highest
913Lowest
1,167
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+3.5%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-14.4%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
-5.3%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
44.6±12.3Lowest
15% above U.S.
51.7±12.6Highest
33% above U.S.
45.2±11.6
16% above U.S.
Exeter 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%
22.7%±7.1Highest
U.S.: 22%
18.3%±5.7Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Exeter 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%
26.9%±10.5Lowest
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%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
28.2%
U.S.: 35.7%
25.9%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
1.2%±1.4
U.S.: 6.4%
1%±1.9Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.6%±2.4Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Brighton and Windsor 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.
$77,550±$19kHighest
4% below U.S.
$47,375±$21kLowest
41% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$170,300±$22k
49% below U.S.
$243,000±$89kHighest
27% below U.S.
$163,900±$39kLowest
51% below U.S.
Exeter 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.
$867±$44
39% below U.S.
$775±$33Lowest
45% below U.S.
Windsor and Exeter 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.
$2,926Lowest
6% below U.S.
$3,360
8% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
31.4%±20
U.S.: 51.1%
0%±100Lowest
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%
4.3%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
22%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
51.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
97.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
51.1%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1938Lowest
42 yrs older than U.S.
1977Highest
3 yrs older than U.S.
1967
13 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
22 minLowest
16% below U.S.
29 min
9% above U.S.
33 minHighest
25% above U.S.
Work from home
6.6%±4.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
14.4%±10.4Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
12.4%±8.1
U.S.: 15.1%
Exeter 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 — — 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.