Compare towns
Windsor vs Brighton vs Williston
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 1945).
Brighton has the most affordable homes ($164k median).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
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 | Brighton | Williston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,554 |
1,167Lowest |
10,144Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.2% VT: +2.8% |
-5.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.8±6.5Lowest 4% above VT |
45.2±11.6 5% above VT |
45.4±4.5Highest 5% above VT |
| Williston and Brighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
18.3%±5.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
20.5%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Williston and Windsor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 29.7%±6.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
27.2%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
21%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| 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+ | 39.7% VT: 43.8% |
25.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
54.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.7%±0.8Lowest VT: 7% |
4.6%±2.4 VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7Highest VT: 7% |
| Williston and Brighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $52,484±$11k 35% below VT |
$47,375±$21kLowest 42% below VT |
$106,967±$12kHighest 32% above VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $207,500±$31k 34% below VT |
$163,900±$39kLowest 48% below VT |
$475,800±$40kHighest 50% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,026±$89 17% below VT |
$775±$33Lowest 37% below VT |
$1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,209 3% above VT |
$3,360Lowest 33% below VT |
$5,592Highest 11% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.5%±17Lowest VT: 48.4% |
55%±17Highest VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4 VT: 48.4% |
| Brighton and Williston 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% |
22%Highest VT: 10.1% |
4.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 57.8% VT: 73.2% |
51.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
75.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1945Lowest 31 yrs older than VT |
1967 9 yrs older than VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 3% below VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
20 minLowest 16% below VT |
| Work from home | 10.3%±5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
12.4%±8.1 VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Williston 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 | — | #11 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | Brighton School District | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 |
| 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.