Compare towns
Addison vs Essex vs Williston
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Addison has the most affordable homes ($362k median).
Essex has the most kids (22.4% under 18).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
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 | Addison | Essex | Williston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,175Lowest |
11,516Highest |
10,144 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+12.8% VT: +2.8% |
+16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 53.1±7.6Highest 23% above VT |
42.4±1.9Lowest about the VT average |
45.4±4.5 5% above VT |
| Addison and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±5.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
22.4%±3.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
20.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Essex and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27.1%±1.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.9%±3.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
57.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
54.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.3 VT: 7% |
2.8%±1.2Lowest VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7Highest VT: 7% |
| Williston and Addison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $106,667±$7kLowest 31% above VT |
$110,199±$14kHighest 36% above VT |
$106,967±$12k 32% above VT |
| Essex and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $362,200±$23kLowest 14% above VT |
$447,300±$14k 41% above VT |
$475,800±$40kHighest 50% above VT |
| Williston and Essex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,019±$461Highest 64% above VT |
$1,569±$138Lowest 27% above VT |
$1,832±$130 48% above VT |
| Addison and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,831 16% above VT |
$6,602Highest 31% above VT |
$5,592Lowest 11% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.9%±62.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
45.9%±13.1 VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Williston and Essex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.5% VT: 10.1% |
5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
4.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
75.9% VT: 73.2% |
75.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Lowest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1990 14 yrs newer than VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 18% above VT |
22 min 6% below VT |
20 minLowest 16% below VT |
| Work from home | 12.3%±5.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
21.5%±5.8 VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Williston and Essex 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 | — | #13 of 70 in VT | #11 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | Essex Westford Educational Community Unified Union SD #51 | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| 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.