Compare towns
Williston vs Brattleboro vs South Burlington
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Williston has the most homeowners (75.1%).
Brattleboro has the most affordable homes ($257k median).
South Burlington has the youngest population (median age 38.2).
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 | South Burlington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,144Lowest |
12,122 |
20,756Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+1.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+13.3% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.4±4.5 5% above VT |
45.6±4.5Highest 6% above VT |
38.2±1.8Lowest 11% 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%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
19%±2.8Lowest VT: 17.9% |
19%±2.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Williston and Brattleboro 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% |
17.8%±2.1Lowest 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% VT: 43.8% |
46.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
67.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.7 VT: 7% |
4.1%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
6.5%±2Highest 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 | $106,967±$12kHighest 32% above VT |
$58,241±$8kLowest 28% below VT |
$106,667±$13k 31% above 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 | $475,800±$40kHighest 50% above VT |
$257,300±$18kLowest 19% below VT |
$443,400±$19k 40% above 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 | $1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
$1,074±$58Lowest 13% below VT |
$1,787±$59 45% above 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 | $5,592Lowest 11% above VT |
$5,700 13% above VT |
$6,674Highest 32% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±17.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±9.6Highest VT: 48.4% |
42.9%±7.6Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Below poverty line | 4.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
17.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
58.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
61.6% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1989 13 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minHighest 16% below VT |
19 min 19% below VT |
18 minLowest 25% below VT |
| Work from home | 22.3%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
17.9%±4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
19.6%±3.3 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 | #11 of 70 in VT | #33 of 70 in VT | #12 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | South Burlington School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Brattleboro Union High School | South Burlington High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.0Lowest |
11.0Highest |
| 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.