Compare towns

Williston vs Keene vs Brattleboro

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%).
Keene has the youngest population (median age 37.6).
Brattleboro has the oldest population (median age 45.6).

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.

MeasureWillistonKeeneBrattleboro
People
Population
10,144Lowest
22,939Highest
12,122
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+16.2%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-1.5%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+1.1%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
45.4±4.5
17% above U.S.
37.6±2.3Lowest
3% below U.S.
45.6±4.5Highest
17% 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%±5.2Highest
U.S.: 22%
14.1%±1.6Lowest
U.S.: 22%
19%±2.8
U.S.: 22%
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
U.S.: 17.2%
19.5%±1.8Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
25.5%±3.2Highest
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%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
44.1%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
46.5%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.7%±2.7
U.S.: 6.4%
13.8%±1.4Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.1%±1.6Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$106,967±$12kHighest
32% above U.S.
$78,445±$8k
about the U.S. average
$58,241±$8kLowest
28% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$475,800±$40kHighest
43% above U.S.
$252,500±$12kLowest
24% below U.S.
$257,300±$18k
23% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,832±$130Highest
30% above U.S.
$1,342±$68
5% below U.S.
$1,074±$58Lowest
24% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,592Lowest
79% above U.S.
$6,812Highest
118% above U.S.
$5,700
83% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
46.9%±17.4Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
44.5%±6.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
46.9%±9.6Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Below poverty line
4.3%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
10.1%
U.S.: 12.5%
17.8%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
75.1%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
55.1%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
58.5%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1993Highest
13 yrs newer than U.S.
1961
19 yrs older than U.S.
1955Lowest
25 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
20 minHighest
25% below U.S.
17 minLowest
35% below U.S.
19 min
28% below U.S.
Work from home
22.3%±7.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
15.6%±2.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
17.9%±4
U.S.: 15.1%
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 #81 of 120 in NH #33 of 70 in VT
School district Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 Keene School District Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96
High school in town None in town Keene High School Brattleboro Union High School
Students per teacherat that high school —
12.3Highest
9.0Lowest
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.