Compare towns

Brattleboro vs Keene vs Williston

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Brattleboro has the oldest population (median age 45.6).
Keene has the youngest population (median age 37.6).
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.

MeasureBrattleboroKeeneWilliston
People
Population
12,122
22,939Highest
10,144Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+1.1%
U.S.: +7.4%
-1.5%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+16.2%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
45.6±4.5Highest
17% above U.S.
37.6±2.3Lowest
3% below U.S.
45.4±4.5
17% above U.S.
Brattleboro and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
19%±2.8
U.S.: 22%
14.1%±1.6Lowest
U.S.: 22%
20.5%±5.2Highest
U.S.: 22%
Williston and Brattleboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
25.5%±3.2Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
19.5%±1.8Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
21%±3.5
U.S.: 17.2%
Brattleboro and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
46.5%
U.S.: 35.7%
44.1%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
54.9%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.1%±1.6Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
13.8%±1.4Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.7%±2.7
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$58,241±$8kLowest
28% below U.S.
$78,445±$8k
about the U.S. average
$106,967±$12kHighest
32% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$257,300±$18k
23% below U.S.
$252,500±$12kLowest
24% below U.S.
$475,800±$40kHighest
43% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,074±$58Lowest
24% below U.S.
$1,342±$68
5% below U.S.
$1,832±$130Highest
30% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,700
83% above U.S.
$6,812Highest
118% above U.S.
$5,592Lowest
79% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
46.9%±9.6Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
44.5%±6.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
46.9%±17.4Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Below poverty line
17.8%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
10.1%
U.S.: 12.5%
4.3%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
58.5%
U.S.: 65.2%
55.1%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
75.1%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1955Lowest
25 yrs older than U.S.
1961
19 yrs older than U.S.
1993Highest
13 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
19 min
28% below U.S.
17 minLowest
35% below U.S.
20 minHighest
25% below U.S.
Work from home
17.9%±4
U.S.: 15.1%
15.6%±2.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
22.3%±7.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
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 #81 of 120 in NH #11 of 70 in VT
School district Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 Keene School District Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56
High school in town Brattleboro Union High School Keene High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
9.0Lowest
12.3Highest
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On TownTapestry
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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.