Compare towns
Windsor vs Sheldon vs Brighton vs North Bennington
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 oldest housing (typical home built 1938).
Sheldon has the most homeowners (89%).
Brighton has the most affordable homes ($164k median).
North Bennington has the most people working from home (17.3%).
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 | Sheldon | Brighton | North Bennington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,060 |
2,267Highest |
1,167Lowest |
1,336 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.5% VT: +2.8% |
-2.5% VT: +2.8% |
-5.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+4.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.6±12.3 3% above VT |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% below VT |
45.2±11.6Highest 5% above VT |
43.9±10 about the VT average |
| Brighton and Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.1%±8.8 VT: 17.9% |
23.7%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.3%±5.7 VT: 17.9% |
10.4%±2.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Sheldon and Windsor 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% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
27.2%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
31.9%±8.1Highest 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% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
25.9% VT: 43.8% |
41.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.2%±1.4Lowest VT: 7% |
2%±1.3 VT: 7% |
4.6%±2.4 VT: 7% |
21.6%±6.5Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $51,197±$4k 37% below VT |
$78,533±$25kHighest 3% below VT |
$47,375±$21kLowest 42% below VT |
$68,571±$10k 16% below VT |
| Sheldon 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 |
$272,400±$61k 14% below VT |
$163,900±$39kLowest 48% below VT |
$313,000±$40kHighest about the VT average |
| North Bennington and Sheldon 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 |
$1,286±$379 4% above VT |
$775±$33Lowest 37% below VT |
$1,447±$278Highest 17% above VT |
| North Bennington and Sheldon 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 |
$3,578 29% below VT |
$3,360Lowest 33% below VT |
$5,590Highest 11% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.4%±20 VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
55%±17Highest VT: 48.4% |
53.7%±26.9 VT: 48.4% |
| Brighton and North Bennington 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% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
22%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7.4% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 51.6% VT: 73.2% |
89%Highest VT: 73.2% |
51.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
61.4% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1967 9 yrs older than VT |
1957 19 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 6% below VT |
25 min 7% above VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
18 minLowest 24% below VT |
| Work from home | 6.6%±4.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
12.4%±8.1 VT: 16.9% |
17.3%±7.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
| North Bennington and Sheldon 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 | — | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | 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.