Compare towns
Windsor vs Reading vs North Bennington 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 the most kids (21.1% under 18).
Reading has the most homeowners (84.9%).
North Bennington has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.4%).
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 | Reading | North Bennington | Brighton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,060Highest |
699Lowest |
1,336 |
1,167 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.5% VT: +2.8% |
+3.2% VT: +2.8% |
+4.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-5.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.6±12.3 3% above VT |
51.1±7.6Highest 19% above VT |
43.9±10Lowest about the VT average |
45.2±11.6 5% above VT |
| Reading 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% |
18.5%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
10.4%±2.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.3%±5.7 VT: 17.9% |
| Windsor and Reading 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% |
28.2%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
31.9%±8.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
27.2%±4.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| North Bennington 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% |
46%Highest VT: 43.8% |
41.4% VT: 43.8% |
25.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.2%±1.4Lowest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5 VT: 7% |
21.6%±6.5Highest VT: 7% |
4.6%±2.4 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $51,197±$4k 37% below VT |
$85,000±$19kHighest 5% above VT |
$68,571±$10k 16% below VT |
$47,375±$21kLowest 42% below VT |
| Reading and North Bennington 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 |
$377,200±$72kHighest 19% above VT |
$313,000±$40k about the VT average |
$163,900±$39kLowest 48% below VT |
| Reading and North Bennington 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 |
$1,100±$331 11% below VT |
$1,447±$278Highest 17% above VT |
$775±$33Lowest 37% below VT |
| North Bennington and Reading 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 |
$5,754Highest 14% above VT |
$5,590 11% above VT |
$3,360Lowest 33% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.4%±20Lowest VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
53.7%±26.9 VT: 48.4% |
55%±17 VT: 48.4% |
| Reading and Brighton 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% |
8.4% VT: 10.1% |
7.4%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
22%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 51.6% VT: 73.2% |
84.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
61.4% VT: 73.2% |
51.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1969Highest 7 yrs older than VT |
1957 19 yrs older than VT |
1967 9 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 6% below VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
18 minLowest 24% below VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
| Work from home | 6.6%±4.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
17.3%±7.3 VT: 16.9% |
12.4%±8.1 VT: 16.9% |
| Reading and North Bennington 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 | — | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | — | 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 | 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.