Compare towns
Williston vs Brattleboro vs Johnson
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Brattleboro has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Johnson has the most affordable homes ($169k 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 | Williston | Brattleboro | Johnson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,144 |
12,122Highest |
3,450Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+1.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+1.3% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.4±4.5 5% above VT |
45.6±4.5Highest 6% above VT |
30.9±6.5Lowest 28% below VT |
| 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 VT: 17.9% |
19%±2.8Lowest VT: 17.9% |
22.7%±5Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Johnson and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
25.5%±3.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
10.8%±3.1Lowest 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+ | 54.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
46.5% VT: 43.8% |
32.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.7 VT: 7% |
4.1%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
14.4%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $106,967±$12kHighest 32% above VT |
$58,241±$8k 28% below VT |
$55,346±$14kLowest 32% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $475,800±$40kHighest 50% above VT |
$257,300±$18k 19% below VT |
$169,400±$62kLowest 46% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
$1,074±$58 13% below VT |
$948±$45Lowest 23% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,592 11% above VT |
$5,700Highest 13% above VT |
$3,310Lowest 34% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±17.4Lowest VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±9.6Lowest VT: 48.4% |
51.6%±20.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Johnson and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
17.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
12.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
58.5% VT: 73.2% |
58.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 16% below VT |
19 minLowest 19% below VT |
33 minHighest 42% above VT |
| Work from home | 22.3%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
17.9%±4 VT: 16.9% |
8.8%±4.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Williston and Brattleboro 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 | #57 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A |
| High school in town | None in town | Brattleboro Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.0 |
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| 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.