Compare towns
Essex Junction vs Ogunquit vs Williston vs Hartford
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%).
Williston has the most kids (20.5% under 18).
Hartford has the most affordable homes ($305k 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 | Essex Junction | Ogunquit | Williston | Hartford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,803Highest |
1,379Lowest |
10,144 |
10,736 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.3±3.1Lowest about the U.S. average |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
45.4±4.5 17% above U.S. |
43.2±3.9 11% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
18%±3 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% |
21%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.5%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
47.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.7%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 | $89,257±$16k 11% above U.S. |
$114,259±$56kHighest 42% above U.S. |
$106,967±$12k 32% above U.S. |
$78,125±$7kLowest 3% below 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±$20k 22% above U.S. |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
$475,800±$40k 43% above U.S. |
$304,500±$26kLowest 8% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,544±$135 9% above U.S. |
— | $1,832±$130Highest 30% above U.S. |
$1,218±$118Lowest 14% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,797Highest 118% above U.S. |
$4,473Lowest 43% above U.S. |
$5,592 79% above U.S. |
$5,773 85% 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% |
46.9%±17.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±12.7 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% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
67.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 27% below U.S. |
26 minHighest about the U.S. average |
20 min 25% below U.S. |
18 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.9%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±7.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.9%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #14 of 70 in VT | — | #11 of 70 in VT | #34 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Essex Westford Educational Community Unified Union SD #51 | — | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Hartford School District |
| High school in town | Essex High School | — | None in town | Hartford High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.7Highest |
— | — | 9.6Lowest |
| 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.