Compare towns

Keene vs Sullivan vs Wilder 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).
Sullivan has the most homeowners (93.6%).
Wilder has grown the fastest since 2010 (+81.7%).
Williston has the most expensive homes ($476k median).

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.

MeasureKeeneSullivanWilderWilliston
People
Population
22,939Highest
687Lowest
3,087
10,144
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-1.5%
U.S.: +7.4%
-2.8%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+81.7%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+16.2%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
37.6±2.3Lowest
3% below U.S.
46.6±6.5Highest
20% above U.S.
45.5±8.9
17% above U.S.
45.4±4.5
17% above U.S.
Sullivan and Wilder are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
14.1%±1.6
U.S.: 22%
16.3%±5
U.S.: 22%
11.8%±4.1Lowest
U.S.: 22%
20.5%±5.2Highest
U.S.: 22%
Williston and Sullivan 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%
20.5%±3.6
U.S.: 17.2%
27.3%±4.4Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
21%±3.5
U.S.: 17.2%
Wilder 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%
U.S.: 35.7%
28.5%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
60.2%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
54.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
13.8%±1.4Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.9%±2.6Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
8.1%±3.9
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
$106,667±$20k
32% above U.S.
$75,143±$9kLowest
7% below U.S.
$106,967±$12kHighest
32% above U.S.
Williston and Sullivan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$252,500±$12k
24% below U.S.
$236,500±$29kLowest
29% below U.S.
$273,200±$18k
18% below U.S.
$475,800±$40kHighest
43% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,342±$68
5% below U.S.
$1,225±$275
13% below U.S.
$1,142±$451Lowest
19% below U.S.
$1,832±$130Highest
30% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,812Highest
118% above U.S.
$5,099Lowest
63% above U.S.
$5,505
76% above U.S.
$5,592
79% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
44.5%±6.1
U.S.: 51.1%
40%±84.5
U.S.: 51.1%
39.9%±17.2Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
46.9%±17.4Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Williston and Keene are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
10.1%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
4.1%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
9.3%
U.S.: 12.5%
4.3%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
55.1%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
93.6%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
62.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
75.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1961Lowest
19 yrs older than U.S.
1979
1 yr older than U.S.
1983
3 yrs newer than U.S.
1993Highest
13 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
17 min
35% below U.S.
32 minHighest
22% above U.S.
17 minLowest
37% below U.S.
20 min
25% below U.S.
Work from home
15.6%±2.7
U.S.: 15.1%
4.2%±2.5Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
12.6%±6.7
U.S.: 15.1%
22.3%±7.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Williston and Keene 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 — — #11 of 70 in VT
School district Keene School District — — Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56
High school in town Keene High School — — None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
12.3
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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.