Compare towns

Brattleboro vs Williston vs Brattleboro

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Brattleboro has the shortest commute (15 min average).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Brattleboro has the oldest population (median age 45.6).

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.

MeasureBrattleboroWillistonBrattleboro
People
Population
7,657Lowest
10,144
12,122Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-0.8%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
+16.2%Highest
VT: +2.8%
+1.1%
VT: +2.8%
Median age
44.3±5.9Lowest
about the VT average
45.4±4.5
5% above VT
45.6±4.5Highest
6% above VT
Brattleboro and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
20%±4.1
VT: 17.9%
20.5%±5.2Highest
VT: 17.9%
19%±2.8Lowest
VT: 17.9%
Williston and Brattleboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
24.8%±4.2
VT: 21.4%
21%±3.5Lowest
VT: 21.4%
25.5%±3.2Highest
VT: 21.4%
Brattleboro and Brattleboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
47.2%
VT: 43.8%
54.9%Highest
VT: 43.8%
46.5%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.3%±2.4
VT: 7%
5.7%±2.7Highest
VT: 7%
4.1%±1.6Lowest
VT: 7%
Williston and Brattleboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$52,734±$12kLowest
35% below VT
$106,967±$12kHighest
32% above VT
$58,241±$8k
28% below VT
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$234,600±$20kLowest
26% below VT
$475,800±$40kHighest
50% above VT
$257,300±$18k
19% below VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,113±$67
10% below VT
$1,832±$130Highest
48% above VT
$1,074±$58Lowest
13% below VT
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,490Lowest
9% above VT
$5,592
11% above VT
$5,700Highest
13% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
46.1%±9.5Lowest
VT: 48.4%
46.9%±17.4Highest
VT: 48.4%
46.9%±9.6Highest
VT: 48.4%
Below poverty line
21.3%Highest
VT: 10.1%
4.3%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
17.8%
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
50.7%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
75.1%Highest
VT: 73.2%
58.5%
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1938Lowest
38 yrs older than VT
1993Highest
17 yrs newer than VT
1955
21 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
15 minLowest
35% below VT
20 minHighest
16% below VT
19 min
19% below VT
Work from home
11.8%±5.1Lowest
VT: 16.9%
22.3%±7.6Highest
VT: 16.9%
17.9%±4
VT: 16.9%
Williston and Brattleboro 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 #33 of 70 in VT #11 of 70 in VT #33 of 70 in VT
School district — Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96
High school in town — None in town Brattleboro Union High School
Students per teacherat that high school — —
9.0
On TownTapestry
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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.