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

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