Compare towns
South Burlington vs Williston vs Brattleboro
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
South Burlington has the youngest population (median age 38.2).
Williston has the most homeowners (75.1%).
Brattleboro has the most affordable homes ($257k 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.
| Measure | South Burlington | Williston | Brattleboro |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 20,756Highest |
10,144Lowest |
12,122 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13.3% VT: +2.8% |
+16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+1.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 38.2±1.8Lowest 11% below VT |
45.4±4.5 5% above VT |
45.6±4.5Highest 6% above VT |
| Brattleboro and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19%±2.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
20.5%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
19%±2.8Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Williston and South Burlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.8%±2.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
25.5%±3.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| 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+ | 67.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
54.9% VT: 43.8% |
46.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.5%±2Highest VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7 VT: 7% |
4.1%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
| South Burlington and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $106,667±$13k 31% above VT |
$106,967±$12kHighest 32% above VT |
$58,241±$8kLowest 28% below VT |
| Williston and South Burlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $443,400±$19k 40% above VT |
$475,800±$40kHighest 50% above VT |
$257,300±$18kLowest 19% below VT |
| Williston and South Burlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,787±$59 45% above VT |
$1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
$1,074±$58Lowest 13% below VT |
| Williston and South Burlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,674Highest 32% above VT |
$5,592Lowest 11% above VT |
$5,700 13% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.9%±7.6Lowest VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±9.6Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Below poverty line | 7.2% VT: 10.1% |
4.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
17.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 61.6% VT: 73.2% |
75.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
58.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1989 13 yrs newer than VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 25% below VT |
20 minHighest 16% below VT |
19 min 19% below VT |
| Work from home | 19.6%±3.3 VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
17.9%±4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Williston and South Burlington 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 | #12 of 70 in VT | #11 of 70 in VT | #33 of 70 in VT |
| School district | South Burlington School District | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 |
| High school in town | South Burlington High School | None in town | Brattleboro Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.0Highest |
— | 9.0Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
VT 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.