Compare towns
Bennington 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
Bennington has the most affordable homes ($213k 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 | Bennington | Essex | Williston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,249Highest |
11,516 |
10,144Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+12.8% VT: +2.8% |
+16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 44.7±2.3 4% above VT |
42.4±1.9Lowest about the VT average |
45.4±4.5Highest 5% above VT |
| Williston and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.7%±2.3Lowest 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+ | 25.2%±2.8Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.9%±3.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
| Bennington and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
57.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
54.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±1.6Highest VT: 7% |
2.8%±1.2Lowest VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7 VT: 7% |
| Bennington and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $59,446±$7kLowest 27% below 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 | $213,300±$15kLowest 33% below 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 | $1,133±$63Lowest 8% below VT |
$1,569±$138 27% above VT |
$1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
| Williston and Essex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,513Lowest 10% below VT |
$6,602Highest 31% above VT |
$5,592 11% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 68.8%±14.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
45.9%±13.1Lowest VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4 VT: 48.4% |
| Bennington and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 13.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5% VT: 10.1% |
4.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
75.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
75.1% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961Lowest 15 yrs older than VT |
1990 14 yrs newer than VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 27% below VT |
22 minHighest 6% below VT |
20 min 16% below VT |
| Work from home | 15.1%±4.4Lowest 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 | #58 of 70 in VT | #13 of 70 in VT | #11 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Southwest Tech · Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 | Essex Westford Educational Community Unified Union SD #51 | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 |
| High school in town | Mt. Anthony Senior Union High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.7 |
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| 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.