Compare towns

Brattleboro vs Williston vs Keene

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).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Keene has the youngest population (median age 37.6).

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.

MeasureBrattleboroWillistonKeene
People
Population
12,122
10,144Lowest
22,939Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+1.1%
U.S.: +7.4%
+16.2%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-1.5%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
45.6±4.5Highest
17% above U.S.
45.4±4.5
17% above U.S.
37.6±2.3Lowest
3% below 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%
20.5%±5.2Highest
U.S.: 22%
14.1%±1.6Lowest
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%
21%±3.5
U.S.: 17.2%
19.5%±1.8Lowest
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%
54.9%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
44.1%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.1%±1.6Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.7%±2.7
U.S.: 6.4%
13.8%±1.4Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$58,241±$8kLowest
28% below U.S.
$106,967±$12kHighest
32% above U.S.
$78,445±$8k
about the U.S. average
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$257,300±$18k
23% below U.S.
$475,800±$40kHighest
43% above U.S.
$252,500±$12kLowest
24% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,074±$58Lowest
24% below U.S.
$1,832±$130Highest
30% above U.S.
$1,342±$68
5% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,700
83% above U.S.
$5,592Lowest
79% above U.S.
$6,812Highest
118% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
46.9%±9.6Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
46.9%±17.4Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
44.5%±6.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Below poverty line
17.8%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
4.3%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
10.1%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
58.5%
U.S.: 65.2%
75.1%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
55.1%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1955Lowest
25 yrs older than U.S.
1993Highest
13 yrs newer than U.S.
1961
19 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
19 min
28% below U.S.
20 minHighest
25% below U.S.
17 minLowest
35% below U.S.
Work from home
17.9%±4
U.S.: 15.1%
22.3%±7.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
15.6%±2.7Lowest
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 #11 of 70 in VT #81 of 120 in NH
School district Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 Keene School District
High school in town Brattleboro Union High School None in town Keene High School
Students per teacherat that high school
9.0Lowest
—
12.3Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story 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.