Compare towns
Keene vs Brattleboro 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
Keene has the youngest population (median age 37.6).
Brattleboro has the oldest population (median age 45.6).
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.
| Measure | Keene | Brattleboro | Williston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 22,939Highest |
12,122 |
10,144Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.6±2.3Lowest 3% below U.S. |
45.6±4.5Highest 17% above 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 | 14.1%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19%±2.8 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+ | 19.5%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.5%±3.2Highest 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+ | 44.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.8%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $78,445±$8k about the U.S. average |
$58,241±$8kLowest 28% below U.S. |
$106,967±$12kHighest 32% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $252,500±$12kLowest 24% below U.S. |
$257,300±$18k 23% below U.S. |
$475,800±$40kHighest 43% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,342±$68 5% below U.S. |
$1,074±$58Lowest 24% below U.S. |
$1,832±$130Highest 30% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,812Highest 118% above U.S. |
$5,700 83% above U.S. |
$5,592Lowest 79% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.5%±6.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±9.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±17.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 10.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
17.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 55.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
58.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 35% below U.S. |
19 min 28% below U.S. |
20 minHighest 25% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.6%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.9%±4 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 | #81 of 120 in NH | #33 of 70 in VT | #11 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Keene School District | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 |
| High school in town | Keene High School | Brattleboro Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.3Highest |
9.0Lowest |
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| 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.