Compare towns
Windsor vs Penobscot 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.5%).
Penobscot has the most expensive homes ($296k 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.
| Measure | Windsor | Penobscot | Brighton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,060Highest |
1,154Lowest |
1,167 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-10.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±12.3Lowest 15% above U.S. |
53.4±5.7Highest 37% above U.S. |
45.2±11.6 16% above U.S. |
| Penobscot 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 U.S.: 22% |
18%±6Lowest 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%±8 U.S.: 17.2% |
32%±4.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.2%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Penobscot 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
25.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.2%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Brighton and Windsor 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. |
$63,194±$14kHighest 22% below U.S. |
$47,375±$21kLowest 41% below U.S. |
| Penobscot 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 49% below U.S. |
$296,400±$58kHighest 11% below U.S. |
$163,900±$39kLowest 51% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,002±$107 29% below U.S. |
$1,141±$33Highest 19% below U.S. |
$775±$33Lowest 45% below U.S. |
| Penobscot and Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,878Highest 56% above U.S. |
$1,852Lowest 41% below U.S. |
$3,360 8% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.4%±20Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
73.9%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
55%±17 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Penobscot and Brighton 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% |
16% U.S.: 12.5% |
22%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 51.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
51.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 16% below U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 6.6%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±13.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.4%±8.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Penobscot 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 | — | — |
| School district | — | Penobscot Public Schools | 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 |
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.