Compare towns
Essex Junction vs Williston vs Montpelier
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 youngest population (median age 39.3).
Williston has the most homeowners (75.1%).
Montpelier has the most people working from home (26.9%).
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 | Williston | Montpelier |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,803Highest |
10,144 |
8,014Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.2% VT: +2.8% |
+16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+2.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 39.3±3.1Lowest 9% below VT |
45.4±4.5Highest 5% above VT |
42.3±2.4 about the VT average |
| Williston and Montpelier 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%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
17.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| 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 VT: 21.4% |
21%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
24.3%±3.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Montpelier and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52.4%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
54.9% VT: 43.8% |
66.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.7%±2.2Highest VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7 VT: 7% |
5%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
| 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 10% above VT |
$106,967±$12kHighest 32% above VT |
$81,030±$6kLowest about the VT average |
| 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 29% above VT |
$475,800±$40kHighest 50% above VT |
$375,100±$21kLowest 18% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,544±$135 25% above VT |
$1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
$1,302±$113Lowest 6% above VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,797 35% above VT |
$5,592Lowest 11% above VT |
$6,936Highest 38% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61.3%±14.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4 VT: 48.4% |
42.4%±9.5Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| 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%Highest VT: 10.1% |
4.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
6.5% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.3% VT: 73.2% |
75.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
53.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 7 yrs newer than VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 18% below VT |
20 minHighest 16% below VT |
18 minLowest 23% below VT |
| Work from home | 16.9%±4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6 VT: 16.9% |
26.9%±5Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Montpelier 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 | #14 of 70 in VT | #11 of 70 in VT | #9 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Essex Westford Educational Community Unified Union SD #51 | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Montpelier Roxbury Unified Union School District #71 |
| High school in town | Essex High School | None in town | Montpelier High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.7Highest |
— | 10.4Lowest |
| 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.