Compare towns
Epping vs Essex vs Williston
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Epping has the most homeowners (86.3%).
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 | Epping | Essex | Williston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,430Lowest |
11,516Highest |
10,144 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.1±3.5 16% above U.S. |
42.4±1.9Lowest 9% above U.S. |
45.4±4.5Highest 17% above U.S. |
| Williston and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.7%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Essex and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.9%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Epping and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
57.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±3.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Williston and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $104,220±$7kLowest 29% above U.S. |
$110,199±$14kHighest 36% above U.S. |
$106,967±$12k 32% above U.S. |
| Essex and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $436,900±$35kLowest 31% above U.S. |
$447,300±$14k 34% above U.S. |
$475,800±$40kHighest 43% above U.S. |
| Williston and Essex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,742±$576 23% above U.S. |
$1,569±$138Lowest 11% above U.S. |
$1,832±$130Highest 30% above U.S. |
| Williston and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,936Highest 122% above U.S. |
$6,602 112% above U.S. |
$5,592Lowest 79% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.8%±25.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.9%±13.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±17.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Epping and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1989Lowest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1990 10 yrs newer than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 22% above U.S. |
22 min 17% below U.S. |
20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 24%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.5%±5.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±7.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Epping and Williston 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 | #77 of 120 in NH | #13 of 70 in VT | #11 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Epping School District | Essex Westford Educational Community Unified Union SD #51 | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 |
| High school in town | Epping High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.3 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.