Compare towns
Essex Junction vs Keene 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
Keene has the most affordable homes ($253k median).
Williston has the most people working from home (22.3%).
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 | Essex Junction | Keene | Williston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,803 |
22,939Highest |
10,144Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.3±3.1 about the U.S. average |
37.6±2.3Lowest 3% below U.S. |
45.4±4.5Highest 17% above U.S. |
| Williston and Essex Junction are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Williston and Essex Junction are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 14.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±1.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
21%±3.5Highest 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+ | 52.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
44.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.7%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
13.8%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $89,257±$16k 11% above U.S. |
$78,445±$8kLowest about the U.S. average |
$106,967±$12kHighest 32% above U.S. |
| Williston and Essex Junction are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $407,500±$20k 22% above U.S. |
$252,500±$12kLowest 24% below U.S. |
$475,800±$40kHighest 43% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,544±$135 9% above U.S. |
$1,342±$68Lowest 5% below U.S. |
$1,832±$130Highest 30% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,797 118% above U.S. |
$6,812Highest 118% above U.S. |
$5,592Lowest 79% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61.3%±14.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.5%±6.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±17.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Essex Junction and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
55.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 27% below U.S. |
17 minLowest 35% below U.S. |
20 minHighest 25% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.9%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.6%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Williston and Essex Junction 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 | #81 of 120 in NH | #11 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Essex Westford Educational Community Unified Union SD #51 | Keene School District | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 |
| High school in town | Essex High School | Keene High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.7Lowest |
12.3Highest |
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| 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.