Compare towns

Williston vs Cornwall vs Brattleboro

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%).
Cornwall has the most homeowners (94.3%).
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.

MeasureWillistonCornwallBrattleboro
People
Population
10,144
1,208Lowest
12,122Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+16.2%Highest
VT: +2.8%
+1.9%
VT: +2.8%
+1.1%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
45.4±4.5Lowest
5% above VT
50.4±4.6Highest
17% above VT
45.6±4.5
6% above VT
Cornwall and Brattleboro 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%
18.7%±3Lowest
VT: 17.9%
19%±2.8
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%±3.5Lowest
VT: 21.4%
25.7%±6.1Highest
VT: 21.4%
25.5%±3.2
VT: 21.4%
Cornwall and Brattleboro 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%
54.7%
VT: 43.8%
46.5%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.7%±2.7Highest
VT: 7%
3.7%±3.1Lowest
VT: 7%
4.1%±1.6
VT: 7%
Williston and Brattleboro 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 VT
$114,583±$32kHighest
41% above VT
$58,241±$8kLowest
28% below VT
Cornwall and Williston 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
$458,000±$49k
45% above VT
$257,300±$18kLowest
19% below VT
Williston and Cornwall 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
$1,125±$206
9% below VT
$1,074±$58Lowest
13% below VT
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,592Lowest
11% above VT
$6,726Highest
33% above VT
$5,700
13% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
46.9%±17.4Lowest
VT: 48.4%
61.9%±65.5Highest
VT: 48.4%
46.9%±9.6Lowest
VT: 48.4%
Cornwall and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
4.3%
VT: 10.1%
0.8%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
17.8%Highest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
75.1%
VT: 73.2%
94.3%Highest
VT: 73.2%
58.5%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1993Highest
17 yrs newer than VT
1976
same as VT
1955Lowest
21 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
20 min
16% below VT
24 minHighest
about the VT average
19 minLowest
19% below VT
Work from home
22.3%±7.6
VT: 16.9%
24.4%±6.6Highest
VT: 16.9%
17.9%±4Lowest
VT: 16.9%
Cornwall 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
School district Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96
High school in town None in town None in town Brattleboro Union High School
Students per teacherat that high school — —
9.0
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.