Compare towns
Williston vs New Boston vs Barnstead
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 the shortest commute (20 min average).
New Boston has the highest household income ($154k).
Barnstead has the most affordable homes ($362k 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 | New Boston | Barnstead |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,144Highest |
6,165 |
4,994Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+14.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.4±4.5Highest 17% above U.S. |
38.8±3.4Lowest about the U.S. average |
42.8±3.1 10% above U.S. |
| Williston and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.5%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
27.2%±5.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
21%±5 U.S.: 22% |
| New Boston and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21%±3.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±4.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Williston and Barnstead 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% |
44.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
30.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Barnstead 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±$12kLowest 32% above U.S. |
$154,250±$25kHighest 91% above U.S. |
$111,660±$12k 38% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $475,800±$40k 43% above U.S. |
$481,100±$59kHighest 45% above U.S. |
$362,400±$25kLowest 9% above U.S. |
| New Boston 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. |
$1,193±$111Lowest 16% below U.S. |
$1,395±$75 about the U.S. average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,592Lowest 79% above U.S. |
$8,181Highest 162% above U.S. |
$6,003 92% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±17.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
22.8%±20.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.6%±50.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Barnstead and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1989 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1985Lowest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
36 minHighest 35% above U.S. |
31 min 18% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.3%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.2%±6.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
13%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Williston and New Boston 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 | #21 of 120 in NH | #111 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | New Boston School District | Barnstead School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.