Compare towns
Windsor vs Jay vs Brighton vs Windsor
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).
Jay has the most people working from home (27.3%).
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 | Jay | Brighton | Windsor |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,060 |
471Lowest |
1,167 |
3,554Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.5% VT: +2.8% |
+5.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-5.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+0.2% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.6±12.3Lowest 3% above VT |
52.1±10.5Highest 21% above VT |
45.2±11.6 5% above VT |
44.8±6.5 4% above VT |
| Jay 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% |
14.2%±7.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.3%±5.7 VT: 17.9% |
19.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Windsor and Windsor 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% |
15.5%±6.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
27.2%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
29.7%±6.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Windsor 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% |
45.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
25.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
39.7% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.2%±1.4 VT: 7% |
1.9%±2.5 VT: 7% |
4.6%±2.4Highest VT: 7% |
0.7%±0.8Lowest VT: 7% |
| Brighton and Jay 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 |
$74,792±$25kHighest 8% below VT |
$47,375±$21kLowest 42% below VT |
$52,484±$11k 35% below VT |
| Jay and Windsor 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 |
$234,200±$45kHighest 26% below VT |
$163,900±$39kLowest 48% below VT |
$207,500±$31k 34% below VT |
| Jay and Windsor 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 |
— | $775±$33Lowest 37% below VT |
$1,026±$89Highest 17% below VT |
| Windsor 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 |
$3,588 29% below VT |
$3,360Lowest 33% below VT |
$5,209Highest 3% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.4%±20Lowest VT: 48.4% |
40%±100 VT: 48.4% |
55%±17Highest VT: 48.4% |
31.5%±17 VT: 48.4% |
| Brighton and Jay 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% |
8.7% VT: 10.1% |
22%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 51.6% VT: 73.2% |
97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
51.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
57.8% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1967 9 yrs older than VT |
1945 31 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 6% below VT |
40 minHighest 69% above VT |
33 min 41% above VT |
23 min 3% below VT |
| Work from home | 6.6%±4.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.4%±8.1 VT: 16.9% |
10.3%±5 VT: 16.9% |
| Jay 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 | — | — | #61 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | Brighton School District | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | 12 photos → |
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.