Compare towns
Essex vs Hampton Falls 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 has the most kids (22.4% under 18).
Hampton Falls has the most expensive homes ($773k median).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
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 | Hampton Falls | Williston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,516Highest |
2,328Lowest |
10,144 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.4±1.9Lowest 9% above U.S. |
49.5±7.3Highest 27% above U.S. |
45.4±4.5 17% above U.S. |
| Hampton Falls and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.1%±5.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Essex and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.9%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
25%±3.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hampton Falls and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 57.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Williston and Hampton Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $110,199±$14k 36% above U.S. |
$166,157±$14kHighest 106% above U.S. |
$106,967±$12kLowest 32% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $447,300±$14kLowest 34% above U.S. |
$772,600±$76kHighest 132% above U.S. |
$475,800±$40k 43% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,569±$138Lowest 11% above U.S. |
$1,852±$475Highest 31% above U.S. |
$1,832±$130 30% above U.S. |
| Hampton Falls and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,602 112% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$5,592Lowest 79% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.9%±13.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
27.2%±22.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±17.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Williston and Essex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1990 10 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981Lowest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 17% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 22% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.5%±5.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.8%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Williston and Hampton Falls 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 | #13 of 70 in VT | — | #11 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Essex Westford Educational Community Unified Union SD #51 | Hampton Falls School District | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.