Compare towns
Brattleboro vs Rye 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 most affordable homes ($257k median).
Rye has the most expensive homes ($1028k 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 | Brattleboro | Rye | Williston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 12,122Highest |
5,611Lowest |
10,144 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.6±4.5 17% above U.S. |
55.1±3Highest 42% above U.S. |
45.4±4.5Lowest 17% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 19%±2.8 U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±4Lowest 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%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
31.7%±5.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Rye and Brattleboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
61.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 | $58,241±$8kLowest 28% below U.S. |
$140,655±$39kHighest 74% above U.S. |
$106,967±$12k 32% above U.S. |
| Rye and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $257,300±$18kLowest 23% below U.S. |
$1,028,100±$89kHighest 209% above U.S. |
$475,800±$40k 43% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,074±$58Lowest 24% below U.S. |
$1,781±$156 26% above U.S. |
$1,832±$130Highest 30% above U.S. |
| Williston and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,700 83% above U.S. |
$7,519Highest 141% above U.S. |
$5,592Lowest 79% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±9.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.3%±16.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±17.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 17.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 28% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 9% above U.S. |
20 min 25% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.9%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
30.9%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±7.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Rye and Williston 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 | #2 of 120 in NH | #11 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Rye School District | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 |
| High school in town | Brattleboro Union High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.0 |
— | — |
| 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.