Compare towns

Windsor vs Manchester vs Brighton

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Windsor has the most kids (21.1% under 18).
Manchester has the most expensive homes ($366k median).
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.

MeasureWindsorManchesterBrighton
People
Population
2,060
115,643Highest
1,167Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+3.5%
U.S.: +7.4%
+5.5%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-5.3%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
44.6±12.3
15% above U.S.
38±1Lowest
about the U.S. average
45.2±11.6Highest
16% above U.S.
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
U.S.: 22%
18%±1Lowest
U.S.: 22%
18.3%±5.7
U.S.: 22%
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
U.S.: 17.2%
15.5%±0.8Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
27.2%±4.6
U.S.: 17.2%
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
U.S.: 35.7%
34%
U.S.: 35.7%
25.9%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
1.2%±1.4Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
6.4%±0.7Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.6%±2.4
U.S.: 6.4%
Manchester 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 U.S.
$81,007±$2kHighest
about the U.S. average
$47,375±$21kLowest
41% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$170,300±$22k
49% below U.S.
$365,600±$7kHighest
10% above U.S.
$163,900±$39kLowest
51% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,002±$107
29% below U.S.
$1,564±$37Highest
11% above U.S.
$775±$33Lowest
45% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,878
56% above U.S.
$5,922Highest
90% above U.S.
$3,360Lowest
8% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
31.4%±20Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
50%±3.6
U.S.: 51.1%
55%±17Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Brighton and Manchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
7.8%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
11.2%
U.S.: 12.5%
22%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
51.6%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
48.7%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
51.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1938Lowest
42 yrs older than U.S.
1966
14 yrs older than U.S.
1967Highest
13 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
22 minLowest
16% below U.S.
24 min
9% below U.S.
33 minHighest
25% above U.S.
Work from home
6.6%±4.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
14.1%±1.3Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
12.4%±8.1
U.S.: 15.1%
Manchester 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 #115 of 120 in NH —
School district — Spark Academy of Advanced Technologies · Manchester School District Brighton School District
High school in town — Manchester Memorial High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school —
14.3
—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet 6 photos → None yet

U.S. 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.