Compare towns
Essex vs Jericho vs Newfields 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).
Jericho has the oldest population (median age 49.7).
Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).
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 | Jericho | Newfields | Williston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,516Highest |
5,114 |
2,023Lowest |
10,144 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.4±1.9Lowest 9% above U.S. |
49.7±5.1Highest 28% above U.S. |
44.1±1.8 13% above U.S. |
45.4±4.5 17% above U.S. |
| Jericho 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% |
19.5%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±1.6Lowest 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%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.2%±4.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21%±3.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Williston and Jericho are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 57.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
65.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
68.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.5%±7.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Newfields and Williston 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. |
$116,923±$16k 45% above U.S. |
$197,885±$15kHighest 145% above U.S. |
$106,967±$12kLowest 32% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $447,300±$14kLowest 34% above U.S. |
$493,100±$38k 48% above U.S. |
$646,400±$34kHighest 94% above U.S. |
$475,800±$40k 43% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,569±$138Lowest 11% above U.S. |
$1,731±$111 23% above U.S. |
$1,875±$323Highest 33% above U.S. |
$1,832±$130 30% above U.S. |
| Newfields 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. |
$7,318 135% 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% |
79.3%±52.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.3%±40.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±17.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Jericho and Williston 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% |
0.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1990 10 yrs newer than U.S. |
1983Lowest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1991 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 17% below U.S. |
26 minHighest about the U.S. average |
26 min about the U.S. average |
20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.5%±5.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.8%±6.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
25.5%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±7.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Newfields 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 | #13 of 70 in VT | #6 of 70 in VT | — | #11 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Essex Westford Educational Community Unified Union SD #51 | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 | Newfields School District | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 |
| High school in town | None in town | Mt. Mansfield Union High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.0 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.



