Compare towns
Windsor vs Highgate vs Bellows Falls 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%).
Highgate has the most homeowners (80.7%).
Bellows Falls has the shortest commute (20 min average).
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 | Highgate | Bellows Falls | Brighton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,060 |
3,528Highest |
2,891 |
1,167Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-1.8% VT: +2.8% |
-12.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-5.3% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.6±12.3 3% above VT |
44±7.4 about the VT average |
41.3±6.7Lowest 4% below VT |
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%±8.8 VT: 17.9% |
15.8%±5.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
22.6%±6.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.3%±5.7 VT: 17.9% |
| Bellows Falls and Windsor 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% |
22.2%±5.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
23.7%±5.7 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% |
19.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
27.5% VT: 43.8% |
25.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.2%±1.4Lowest VT: 7% |
2.6%±2.1 VT: 7% |
8.2%±4.3Highest VT: 7% |
4.6%±2.4 VT: 7% |
| Bellows Falls 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 |
$81,017±$14kHighest about the VT average |
$56,086±$2k 31% below VT |
$47,375±$21kLowest 42% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $170,300±$22k 46% below VT |
$280,500±$21kHighest 11% below VT |
$195,600±$35k 38% below VT |
$163,900±$39kLowest 48% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,002±$107 19% below VT |
$895±$691 27% below VT |
$1,038±$109Highest 16% below VT |
$775±$33Lowest 37% below VT |
| Bellows Falls and Windsor 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 |
$3,558 29% below VT |
$4,448 12% below VT |
$3,360Lowest 33% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.4%±20 VT: 48.4% |
30.5%±11.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
43.9%±16.8 VT: 48.4% |
55%±17Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Brighton and Bellows Falls 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% |
8.1% VT: 10.1% |
25.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
22% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 51.6% VT: 73.2% |
80.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
50.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
51.1% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1967 9 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 6% below VT |
31 min 32% above VT |
20 minLowest 14% below VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
| Work from home | 6.6%±4.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±7.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.9%±5.3 VT: 16.9% |
12.4%±8.1 VT: 16.9% |
| Highgate 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 | #43 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | — | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | — | Brighton School District |
| High school in town | — | Missisquoi Valley Union High School | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.8 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.