Compare towns
Windsor vs Waitsfield 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 shortest commute (22 min average).
Waitsfield has the most expensive homes ($422k 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 | Waitsfield | Brighton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,060Highest |
1,918 |
1,167Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.5% VT: +2.8% |
+7.3%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-5.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.6±12.3 3% above VT |
44.3±5.3Lowest about the VT average |
45.2±11.6Highest 5% above VT |
| 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% |
23.8%±5.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.3%±5.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Waitsfield and Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 29.2%±8Highest VT: 21.4% |
28.2%±6.2 VT: 21.4% |
27.2%±4.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Windsor and Waitsfield 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% |
63.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
25.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.2%±1.4Lowest VT: 7% |
3.8%±3 VT: 7% |
4.6%±2.4Highest VT: 7% |
| Brighton and Waitsfield 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 VT |
$84,375±$34kHighest 4% above VT |
$47,375±$21kLowest 42% below VT |
| Waitsfield and Windsor 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 |
$422,400±$92kHighest 33% above VT |
$163,900±$39kLowest 48% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,002±$107 19% below VT |
$1,200±$821Highest about the VT average |
$775±$33Lowest 37% below VT |
| Waitsfield and Windsor 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 |
$6,208Highest 23% above VT |
$3,360Lowest 33% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.4%±20Lowest VT: 48.4% |
47.4%±30.6 VT: 48.4% |
55%±17Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Brighton and Waitsfield 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% |
6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
22%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 51.6% VT: 73.2% |
79.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
51.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1967 9 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 6% below VT |
25 min 6% above VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
| Work from home | 6.6%±4.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
19%±6.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.4%±8.1 VT: 16.9% |
| Waitsfield 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 | — | Harwood Unified Union School District #60 | Brighton School District |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.