Compare towns
Windsor vs Ware 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%).
Ware has the most expensive homes ($290k 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 | Ware | Brighton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,060 |
10,048Highest |
1,167Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±12.3 15% above U.S. |
43.1±4.7Lowest 11% above U.S. |
45.2±11.6Highest 16% above U.S. |
| 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%±8.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.1%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
18.3%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Windsor and Ware 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% |
20.6%±3.4Lowest 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
24%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
25.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Brighton and Ware 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. |
$67,475±$15kHighest 16% below U.S. |
$47,375±$21kLowest 41% below U.S. |
| Ware 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 49% below U.S. |
$289,700±$28kHighest 13% below U.S. |
$163,900±$39kLowest 51% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,002±$107 29% below U.S. |
$1,043±$109Highest 26% below U.S. |
$775±$33Lowest 45% below U.S. |
| Ware and Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,878Highest 56% above U.S. |
$4,237 36% above U.S. |
$3,360Lowest 8% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.4%±20Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
64.3%±16.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
55%±17 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ware and Brighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
22%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 51.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
72.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
51.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1960 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1967Highest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 16% below U.S. |
28 min 8% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 6.6%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.4%±8.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Brighton and Ware 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 | #267 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | — | Ware | Brighton School District |
| High school in town | — | Ware Junior/Senior High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.