Compare towns
Windsor vs Salisbury vs Plainfield 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 oldest housing (typical home built 1938).
Salisbury has the most people working from home (23.3%).
Plainfield has the most expensive homes ($442k 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 | Salisbury | Plainfield | Brighton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,060 |
1,609 |
2,522Highest |
1,167Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±12.3 15% above U.S. |
51.5±4.5Highest 32% above U.S. |
38.9±6.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
45.2±11.6 16% above U.S. |
| Salisbury and Brighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.1%±8.8 U.S.: 22% |
20.1%±9.6 U.S.: 22% |
23.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.3%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Plainfield and Windsor 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% |
24.9%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±4.5Lowest 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
37.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
46.7%Highest 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%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Plainfield 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. |
$111,591±$17k 38% above U.S. |
$122,656±$13kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$47,375±$21kLowest 41% below U.S. |
| Plainfield and Salisbury 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. |
$363,400±$47k 9% above U.S. |
$442,400±$47kHighest 33% above U.S. |
$163,900±$39kLowest 51% below U.S. |
| Plainfield and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,002±$107 29% below U.S. |
$1,917±$632Highest 36% above U.S. |
$1,674±$181 18% above U.S. |
$775±$33Lowest 45% below U.S. |
| Salisbury and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,878 56% above U.S. |
$5,859 88% above U.S. |
$7,904Highest 153% 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% |
31.8%±23.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
55%±17Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Brighton and Plainfield 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% |
7.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
22%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 51.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
51.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 16% below U.S. |
32 min 21% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 6.6%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.3%±10.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±8.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.4%±8.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Salisbury and Plainfield 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 | — | #19 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | — | Merrimack Valley School District | Plainfield School District | 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 |
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.