Compare towns
Williston vs Barnstead vs Lee
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Barnstead has the most affordable homes ($362k median).
Lee has the most people working from home (27.6%).
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 | Williston | Barnstead | Lee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,144Highest |
4,994 |
4,576Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.4±4.5Highest 17% above U.S. |
42.8±3.1Lowest 10% above U.S. |
42.9±1.9 10% above U.S. |
| Williston and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.5%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21%±5 U.S.: 22% |
21.9%±5.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Lee and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±6.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lee and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
50.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Barnstead and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $106,967±$12kLowest 32% above U.S. |
$111,660±$12k 38% above U.S. |
$131,579±$54kHighest 63% above U.S. |
| Lee and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $475,800±$40k 43% above U.S. |
$362,400±$25kLowest 9% above U.S. |
$480,600±$61kHighest 44% above U.S. |
| Lee and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,832±$130Highest 30% above U.S. |
$1,395±$75Lowest about the U.S. average |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,592Lowest 79% above U.S. |
$6,003 92% above U.S. |
$9,661Highest 210% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±17.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
47.6%±50.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.3%±53.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Barnstead and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1985Lowest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1987 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 18% above U.S. |
28 min 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.3%±7.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
13%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
27.6%±8.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lee and Williston 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 | #11 of 70 in VT | #111 of 120 in NH | #3 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Barnstead School District | Oyster River Coop School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 10 photos → |
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.