Compare towns

Windsor vs Putnam 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%).
Putnam has the most homeowners (95.9%).
Brighton has the most people working from home (12.4%).

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.

MeasureWindsorPutnamBrighton
People
Population
2,060Highest
540Lowest
1,167
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+3.5%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-6.9%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
-5.3%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
44.6±12.3Lowest
15% above U.S.
53.6±6.4Highest
38% above U.S.
45.2±11.6
16% above U.S.
Putnam 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%
17.4%±5.2Lowest
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%
35.6%±3.4Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
27.2%±4.6Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Putnam 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%
31.4%
U.S.: 35.7%
25.9%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
1.2%±1.4Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.8%±1.9
U.S.: 6.4%
4.6%±2.4Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Brighton and Putnam 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.
$92,344±$14kHighest
14% above U.S.
$47,375±$21kLowest
41% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$170,300±$22k
49% below U.S.
$266,200±$48kHighest
20% below U.S.
$163,900±$39kLowest
51% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,002±$107Highest
29% below U.S.
—
$775±$33Lowest
45% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,878Highest
56% above U.S.
$3,674
18% above U.S.
$3,360Lowest
8% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
31.4%±20
U.S.: 51.1%
0%±100Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
55%±17Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Brighton and Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
7.8%
U.S.: 12.5%
7.2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
22%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
51.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
95.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
51.1%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1938Lowest
42 yrs older than U.S.
1971Highest
9 yrs older than U.S.
1967
13 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
22 min
16% below U.S.
21 minLowest
19% below U.S.
33 minHighest
25% above U.S.
Work from home
6.6%±4.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
8.6%±5.7
U.S.: 15.1%
12.4%±8.1Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Brighton and Putnam 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 — PUTNAM CENTRAL 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

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.