Compare towns
Essex Junction vs Ogunquit vs Middlebury 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
Essex Junction has the most renters (40.7% rent).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Middlebury has the youngest population (median age 31.8).
Williston has the most kids (20.5% under 18).
Middlebury is a college town. 32.6% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Ogunquit | Middlebury | Williston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,803Highest |
1,379Lowest |
9,175 |
10,144 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.3±3.1 about the U.S. average |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
31.8±3.7Lowest 18% below U.S. |
45.4±4.5 17% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
11.6%±1.9 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% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
21%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
55.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.7%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
32.6%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $89,257±$16k 11% above U.S. |
$114,259±$56kHighest 42% above U.S. |
$86,169±$16kLowest 7% above U.S. |
$106,967±$12k 32% above U.S. |
| Ogunquit and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $407,500±$20kLowest 22% above U.S. |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
$409,700±$30k 23% above U.S. |
$475,800±$40k 43% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,544±$135 9% above U.S. |
— | $1,156±$113Lowest 18% below U.S. |
$1,832±$130Highest 30% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,797 118% above U.S. |
$4,473Lowest 43% above U.S. |
$6,868Highest 120% above U.S. |
$5,592 79% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61.3%±14.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.9%±14.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±17.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Essex Junction and Middlebury 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% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
65.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 27% below U.S. |
26 minHighest about the U.S. average |
16 minLowest 41% below U.S. |
20 min 25% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.9%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.8%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±7.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #14 of 70 in VT | — | #17 of 70 in VT | #11 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Essex Westford Educational Community Unified Union SD #51 | — | Patricia Hannaford Career Center · Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 |
| High school in town | Essex High School | — | Middlebury Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.7Lowest |
— | 12.6Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.