Compare towns
Windsor vs Hardwick 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%).
Hardwick has the highest household income ($92k).
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 | Hardwick | Brighton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,060 |
2,965Highest |
1,167Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3% VT: +2.8% |
-5.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.6±12.3Lowest 3% above VT |
47.1±7.4Highest 9% above VT |
45.2±11.6 5% above VT |
| Hardwick 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% |
15.8%±4.4Lowest 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%±8Highest VT: 21.4% |
27%±5.9Lowest 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% |
33.7% VT: 43.8% |
25.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.2%±1.4Lowest VT: 7% |
2.4%±2.4 VT: 7% |
4.6%±2.4Highest VT: 7% |
| Brighton and Hardwick 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 VT |
$92,297±$17kHighest 14% above VT |
$47,375±$21kLowest 42% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $170,300±$22k 46% below VT |
$184,700±$39kHighest 42% below VT |
$163,900±$39kLowest 48% below VT |
| Hardwick 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 |
$875±$406 29% below VT |
$775±$33Lowest 37% below VT |
| Windsor and Hardwick 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 |
$4,351 14% below VT |
$3,360Lowest 33% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.4%±20Lowest VT: 48.4% |
48.6%±41.3 VT: 48.4% |
55%±17Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Brighton and Hardwick 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% |
9.7% VT: 10.1% |
22%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 51.6% VT: 73.2% |
76.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
51.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1962 14 yrs older than VT |
1967Highest 9 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 6% below VT |
29 min 23% above VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
| Work from home | 6.6%±4.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
11.8%±6 VT: 16.9% |
12.4%±8.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Brighton and Hardwick 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 | #68 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | — | Mountain View Union Elementary School District #94 · Hazen Union High School District #26 | Brighton School District |
| High school in town | — | Hazen Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.6 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.