Compare towns
Windsor vs Sheldon vs Cornish 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%).
Sheldon has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
Cornish has the oldest population (median age 54).
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 | Sheldon | Cornish | Brighton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,060 |
2,267Highest |
1,816 |
1,167Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±12.3 15% above U.S. |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% above U.S. |
54±8.3Highest 39% above U.S. |
45.2±11.6 16% above U.S. |
| Cornish 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% |
23.7%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.4%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.3%±5.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Sheldon 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% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.3%±4.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.2%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Windsor and Cornish 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% |
14.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
25.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.4%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Brighton and Sheldon 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. |
$78,533±$25k about the U.S. average |
$91,821±$2kHighest 14% above U.S. |
$47,375±$21kLowest 41% below U.S. |
| Cornish and Sheldon 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. |
$272,400±$61k 18% below U.S. |
$296,000±$69kHighest 11% below U.S. |
$163,900±$39kLowest 51% below U.S. |
| Cornish 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 29% below U.S. |
$1,286±$379Highest 9% below U.S. |
$1,221±$227 14% below U.S. |
$775±$33Lowest 45% below U.S. |
| Sheldon and Cornish 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. |
$3,578 15% above U.S. |
$5,796Highest 86% above U.S. |
$3,360Lowest 8% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.4%±20 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
40.5%±38.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
55%±17Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Brighton and Cornish 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% |
5.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
22%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 51.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
89% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
51.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 16% below U.S. |
25 min 5% below U.S. |
24 min 8% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 6.6%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.4%±8.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sheldon and Brighton 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 | Cornish School District | Brighton School District |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 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.