Compare towns
Williston vs Brattleboro vs Bow
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%).
Brattleboro has the most affordable homes ($257k median).
Bow has the highest household income ($173k).
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 | Brattleboro | Bow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,144 |
12,122Highest |
8,335Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.4±4.5 17% above U.S. |
45.6±4.5Highest 17% above U.S. |
41.5±2Lowest 7% above 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 | 20.5%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
19%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
25%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Bow and Williston 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% |
25.5%±3.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±2.5Lowest 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+ | 54.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
46.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
60.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Williston and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $106,967±$12k 32% above U.S. |
$58,241±$8kLowest 28% below U.S. |
$172,857±$16kHighest 114% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $475,800±$40k 43% above U.S. |
$257,300±$18kLowest 23% below U.S. |
$506,500±$34kHighest 52% above U.S. |
| Bow 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. |
$1,074±$58Lowest 24% below U.S. |
$1,539±$178 9% above U.S. |
| Williston and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,592Lowest 79% above U.S. |
$5,700 83% above U.S. |
$9,584Highest 207% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±17.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±9.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
39%±13.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 4.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
17.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
58.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 25% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 28% below U.S. |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 22.3%±7.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.9%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Bow 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 | #33 of 70 in VT | #26 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Bow School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Brattleboro Union High School | Bow High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.0Lowest |
12.8Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.