Compare towns
Windsor vs Highgate vs Brighton vs North Bennington
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).
Highgate has the most homeowners (80.7%).
Brighton has the most affordable homes ($164k median).
North Bennington has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.4%).
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 | Highgate | Brighton | North Bennington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,060 |
3,528Highest |
1,167Lowest |
1,336 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.5% VT: +2.8% |
-1.8% VT: +2.8% |
-5.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+4.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.6±12.3 3% above VT |
44±7.4 about the VT average |
45.2±11.6Highest 5% above VT |
43.9±10Lowest about the VT average |
| 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% |
15.8%±5.3 VT: 17.9% |
18.3%±5.7 VT: 17.9% |
10.4%±2.9Lowest 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%±8 VT: 21.4% |
22.2%±5.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
27.2%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
31.9%±8.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
| North Bennington 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% VT: 43.8% |
19.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
25.9% VT: 43.8% |
41.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.2%±1.4Lowest VT: 7% |
2.6%±2.1 VT: 7% |
4.6%±2.4 VT: 7% |
21.6%±6.5Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $51,197±$4k 37% below VT |
$81,017±$14kHighest about the VT average |
$47,375±$21kLowest 42% below VT |
$68,571±$10k 16% below VT |
| Highgate and North Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $170,300±$22k 46% below VT |
$280,500±$21k 11% below VT |
$163,900±$39kLowest 48% below VT |
$313,000±$40kHighest about the VT average |
| North Bennington and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,002±$107 19% below VT |
$895±$691 27% below VT |
$775±$33Lowest 37% below VT |
$1,447±$278Highest 17% above VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,878 3% below VT |
$3,558 29% below VT |
$3,360Lowest 33% below VT |
$5,590Highest 11% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.4%±20 VT: 48.4% |
30.5%±11.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
55%±17Highest VT: 48.4% |
53.7%±26.9 VT: 48.4% |
| Brighton and North Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.8% VT: 10.1% |
8.1% VT: 10.1% |
22%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7.4%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 51.6% VT: 73.2% |
80.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
51.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
61.4% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1967 9 yrs older than VT |
1957 19 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 6% below VT |
31 min 32% above VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
18 minLowest 24% below VT |
| Work from home | 6.6%±4.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
12.4%±8.1 VT: 16.9% |
17.3%±7.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
| North Bennington and Highgate 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.