Compare towns
Essex Junction vs St. Albans vs White River Junction
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Essex Junction has the most expensive homes ($408k median).
St. Albans has the most affordable homes ($263k median).
White River Junction has the shortest commute (15 min average).
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 | St. Albans | White River Junction |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,803Highest |
6,954 |
3,364Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+10.8% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 39.3±3.1Highest 9% below VT |
38.7±2 10% below VT |
33.7±3.2Lowest 22% below VT |
| Essex Junction and St. Albans are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±3.2 VT: 17.9% |
20.5%±3.7Highest VT: 17.9% |
17.1%±5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| St. Albans and Essex Junction are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 14.9%±2.5Highest VT: 21.4% |
13.9%±2.5 VT: 21.4% |
12.5%±3.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Essex Junction and St. Albans are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
31.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
38.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.7%±2.2Highest VT: 7% |
2.7%±1.6 VT: 7% |
1.2%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $89,257±$16kHighest 10% above VT |
$57,980±$7kLowest 29% below VT |
$77,168±$4k 5% below VT |
| Essex Junction and White River Junction are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $407,500±$20kHighest 29% above VT |
$263,400±$18kLowest 17% below VT |
$278,800±$78k 12% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,544±$135Highest 25% above VT |
$1,150±$78Lowest 7% below VT |
$1,222±$216 about the VT average |
| Essex Junction and White River Junction are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,797Highest 35% above VT |
$4,436Lowest 12% below VT |
$5,651 12% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61.3%±14.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
51.8%±11.8 VT: 48.4% |
42.9%±17.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Essex Junction and St. Albans are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
19.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
12.1% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
49% VT: 73.2% |
43.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
1945Lowest 31 yrs older than VT |
1963 13 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 18% below VT |
23 minHighest 4% below VT |
15 minLowest 35% below VT |
| Work from home | 16.9%±4Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.1%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
15.7%±5.8 VT: 16.9% |
| Essex Junction and White River 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 | #46 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Essex Westford Educational Community Unified Union SD #51 | Maple Run Unified Union School District #57 | — |
| High school in town | Essex High School | Bellows Free Academy (St. Albans) | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.7Highest |
11.4Lowest |
— |
| 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.