Compare towns
Keene vs Williston vs Wilder vs Sullivan
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).
Williston has the most expensive homes ($476k median).
Wilder has grown the fastest since 2010 (+81.7%).
Sullivan has the most homeowners (93.6%).
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.
| Measure | Keene | Williston | Wilder | Sullivan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 22,939Highest |
10,144 |
3,087 |
687Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+81.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.6±2.3Lowest 3% below U.S. |
45.4±4.5 17% above U.S. |
45.5±8.9 17% above U.S. |
46.6±6.5Highest 20% 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% |
20.5%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.8%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±5 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% |
21%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.3%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.5%±3.6 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% |
54.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
60.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.5%Lowest 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% |
8.1%±3.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $78,445±$8k about the U.S. average |
$106,967±$12kHighest 32% above U.S. |
$75,143±$9kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$106,667±$20k 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. |
$475,800±$40kHighest 43% above U.S. |
$273,200±$18k 18% below U.S. |
$236,500±$29kLowest 29% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,342±$68 5% below U.S. |
$1,832±$130Highest 30% above U.S. |
$1,142±$451Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,225±$275 13% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,812Highest 118% above U.S. |
$5,592 79% above U.S. |
$5,505 76% above U.S. |
$5,099Lowest 63% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.5%±6.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±17.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
39.9%±17.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±84.5 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% |
4.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 55.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
62.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 17 min 35% below U.S. |
20 min 25% below U.S. |
17 minLowest 37% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 22% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.6%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.6%±6.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
4.2%±2.5Lowest 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 |
— | — | — |
| 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.