Compare towns
Barnard vs Essex Junction vs Williston
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Barnard has the most kids (26.9% under 18).
Essex Junction has the most renters (40.7% rent).
Williston has the most expensive homes ($476k 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 | Barnard | Essex Junction | Williston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,211Lowest |
10,803Highest |
10,144 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+14.2% VT: +2.8% |
+16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42.4±6 about the VT average |
39.3±3.1Lowest 9% below VT |
45.4±4.5Highest 5% above VT |
| Williston and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 26.9%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
19.6%±3.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
20.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Barnard and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22%±3.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
14.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
| Barnard and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
52.4%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
54.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.8Lowest VT: 7% |
6.7%±2.2Highest VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7 VT: 7% |
| Essex Junction and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $97,581±$19k 20% above VT |
$89,257±$16kLowest 10% above VT |
$106,967±$12kHighest 32% above VT |
| Williston and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $402,600±$71kLowest 27% above VT |
$407,500±$20k 29% above VT |
$475,800±$40kHighest 50% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,372±$80Lowest 11% above VT |
$1,544±$135 25% above VT |
$1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,038 20% above VT |
$6,797Highest 35% above VT |
$5,592Lowest 11% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27%±19.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
61.3%±14.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4 VT: 48.4% |
| Essex Junction and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
9.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
4.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
59.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
75.1% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
1983 7 yrs newer than VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 21% above VT |
19 minLowest 18% below VT |
20 min 16% below VT |
| Work from home | 19.3%±10.8 VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Williston and Barnard 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 | — | #14 of 70 in VT | #11 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Essex Westford Educational Community Unified Union SD #51 | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 |
| High school in town | None in town | Essex High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.7 |
— |
| 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.