Compare towns
Windsor vs Putney vs Brookfield vs Brighton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Windsor has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.5%).
Putney has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Brookfield 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 | Putney | Brookfield | Brighton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,060 |
2,622Highest |
1,486 |
1,167Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.1% VT: +2.8% |
-3.7% VT: +2.8% |
-5.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.6±12.3 3% above VT |
37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
47±5.9Highest 9% above VT |
45.2±11.6 5% above VT |
| Brookfield 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% |
15.4%±4.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±4.1 VT: 17.9% |
18.3%±5.7 VT: 17.9% |
| Windsor and Brookfield 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% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29.7%±6.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
27.2%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
| Brookfield 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% |
48.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
45.3% VT: 43.8% |
25.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.2%±1.4Lowest VT: 7% |
20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
3.2%±2.4 VT: 7% |
4.6%±2.4 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $51,197±$4k 37% below VT |
$79,706±$18k about the VT average |
$98,500±$23kHighest 21% above VT |
$47,375±$21kLowest 42% below VT |
| Brookfield and Putney 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 |
$300,000±$44k 5% below VT |
$339,300±$15kHighest 7% above VT |
$163,900±$39kLowest 48% below VT |
| Brookfield and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,002±$107Highest 19% below VT |
$508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
$975±$306 21% below VT |
$775±$33 37% below VT |
| Windsor and Brookfield 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 |
$5,313Highest 5% above VT |
$4,560 10% below VT |
$3,360Lowest 33% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.4%±20 VT: 48.4% |
54.2%±19.4 VT: 48.4% |
30.4%±27.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
55%±17Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Brighton and Putney 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% |
16% VT: 10.1% |
6.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
22%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 51.6% VT: 73.2% |
72.8% VT: 73.2% |
87.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
51.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1977Highest 1 yr newer than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
1967 9 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 6% below VT |
18 minLowest 24% below VT |
37 minHighest 55% above VT |
33 min 41% above VT |
| Work from home | 6.6%±4.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±6.5 VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±10.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.4%±8.1 VT: 16.9% |
| Brookfield and Putney 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 | #32 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | — | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Brighton School District |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.