Compare towns
Williston vs South Berwick vs Keene
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%).
South Berwick has the most kids (26.7% under 18).
Keene has the most affordable homes ($253k 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 | South Berwick | Keene |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,144 |
7,670Lowest |
22,939Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.4±4.5Highest 17% above U.S. |
39±2.5 about the U.S. average |
37.6±2.3Lowest 3% below U.S. |
| Williston and South Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.5%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
26.7%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| South Berwick and Williston 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% |
15.8%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±1.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Williston and Keene 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% |
41.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
13.8%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $106,967±$12kHighest 32% above U.S. |
$99,572±$13k 23% above U.S. |
$78,445±$8kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Williston and South Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $475,800±$40kHighest 43% above U.S. |
$428,300±$26k 29% above U.S. |
$252,500±$12kLowest 24% below U.S. |
| Williston and South Berwick 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. |
$1,726±$83 22% above U.S. |
$1,342±$68Lowest 5% below U.S. |
| Williston and South Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,592 79% above U.S. |
$4,956Lowest 59% above U.S. |
$6,812Highest 118% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±17.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
53.5%±24.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.5%±6.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| South Berwick 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% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
78.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
55.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 25% below U.S. |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
17 minLowest 35% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.3%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.6%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.6%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Williston and South Berwick 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 | #58 of 133 in ME | #81 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Keene School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Marshwood High School | Keene High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.0Highest |
12.3Lowest |
| 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.