Compare towns
Keene vs Williston vs Brattleboro vs Dover
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 shortest commute (17 min average).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Brattleboro has the oldest population (median age 45.6).
Dover has the most renters (47.3% rent).
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 | Williston | Brattleboro | Dover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 22,939 |
10,144Lowest |
12,122 |
33,364Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.6±2.3 3% below U.S. |
45.4±4.5 17% above U.S. |
45.6±4.5Highest 17% above U.S. |
36.9±1.9Lowest 5% 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 | 14.1%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
19%±2.8 U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±1.8 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%±1.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
21%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
25.5%±3.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.8%±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+ | 44.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
52% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.8%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $78,445±$8k about the U.S. average |
$106,967±$12kHighest 32% above U.S. |
$58,241±$8kLowest 28% below U.S. |
$94,829±$7k 17% above U.S. |
| Williston and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $252,500±$12kLowest 24% below U.S. |
$475,800±$40kHighest 43% above U.S. |
$257,300±$18k 23% below U.S. |
$436,700±$20k 31% above U.S. |
| Williston and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,342±$68 5% below U.S. |
$1,832±$130Highest 30% above U.S. |
$1,074±$58Lowest 24% below U.S. |
$1,607±$100 14% above U.S. |
| Williston and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,812 118% above U.S. |
$5,592Lowest 79% above U.S. |
$5,700 83% above U.S. |
$8,249Highest 164% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.5%±6.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±17.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±9.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
48.6%±6.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dover and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 10.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
17.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 55.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
58.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
52.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 35% below U.S. |
20 min 25% below U.S. |
19 min 28% below U.S. |
23 minHighest 14% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.6%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.9%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.6%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Williston and Dover 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 | #33 of 70 in VT | #64 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Keene School District | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Dover School District |
| High school in town | Keene High School | None in town | Brattleboro Union High School | Dover Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.3 |
— | 9.0Lowest |
12.7Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.