Compare towns
Windsor vs Hartford 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 the most kids (21.1% under 18).
Hartford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.4%).
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 | Hartford | Brighton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,060 |
10,736Highest |
1,167Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.5% VT: +2.8% |
+7.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-5.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.6±12.3 3% above VT |
43.2±3.9Lowest about the VT average |
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%±3Lowest 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% |
22.5%±3.3Lowest 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% VT: 43.8% |
47.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
25.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.2%±1.4Lowest VT: 7% |
4.9%±1.7Highest VT: 7% |
4.6%±2.4 VT: 7% |
| Hartford 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 VT |
$78,125±$7kHighest 4% below VT |
$47,375±$21kLowest 42% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $170,300±$22k 46% below VT |
$304,500±$26kHighest 4% below VT |
$163,900±$39kLowest 48% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,002±$107 19% below VT |
$1,218±$118Highest about the VT average |
$775±$33Lowest 37% below VT |
| Hartford and Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,878 3% below VT |
$5,773Highest 15% above VT |
$3,360Lowest 33% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.4%±20Lowest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±12.7 VT: 48.4% |
55%±17Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Brighton and Hartford 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% |
11.1% VT: 10.1% |
22%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 51.6% VT: 73.2% |
67.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
51.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT |
1967 9 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 6% below VT |
18 minLowest 22% below VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
| Work from home | 6.6%±4.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
13.9%±3.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.4%±8.1 VT: 16.9% |
| Hartford 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 | #34 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | — | Hartford School District | Brighton School District |
| High school in town | — | Hartford High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.6 |
— |
| 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.