Compare towns
Essex vs Jericho vs Wilder vs Williston
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Essex has the most kids (22.4% under 18).
Jericho has the most homeowners (92.9%).
Wilder has grown the fastest since 2010 (+81.7%).
Williston has the most people working from home (22.3%).
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 | Wilder | Williston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,516Highest |
5,114 |
3,087Lowest |
10,144 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.8% VT: +2.8% |
+1.9%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+81.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+16.2% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42.4±1.9Lowest about the VT average |
49.7±5.1Highest 15% above VT |
45.5±8.9 6% above VT |
45.4±4.5 5% above VT |
| Jericho and Wilder are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.4%±3.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
19.5%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±4.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
20.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
| 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 VT: 21.4% |
20.2%±4.4 VT: 21.4% |
27.3%±4.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
21%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
| Wilder 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% VT: 43.8% |
65.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
60.2% VT: 43.8% |
54.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.2 VT: 7% |
2.4%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
8.1%±3.9Highest VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7 VT: 7% |
| Wilder 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 VT |
$116,923±$16kHighest 44% above VT |
$75,143±$9kLowest 7% below VT |
$106,967±$12k 32% above VT |
| Jericho and Essex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $447,300±$14k 41% above VT |
$493,100±$38kHighest 56% above VT |
$273,200±$18kLowest 14% below VT |
$475,800±$40k 50% above VT |
| Jericho and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,569±$138 27% above VT |
$1,731±$111 40% above VT |
$1,142±$451Lowest 7% below VT |
$1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
| Williston and Jericho are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,602 31% above VT |
$7,318Highest 45% above VT |
$5,505Lowest 9% above VT |
$5,592 11% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.9%±13.1 VT: 48.4% |
79.3%±52.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
39.9%±17.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4 VT: 48.4% |
| Jericho and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5% VT: 10.1% |
0.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
9.3%Highest VT: 10.1% |
4.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.9% VT: 73.2% |
92.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
62.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
75.1% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1990 14 yrs newer than VT |
1983Lowest 7 yrs newer than VT |
1983Lowest 7 yrs newer than VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 6% below VT |
26 minHighest 10% above VT |
17 minLowest 29% below VT |
20 min 16% below VT |
| Work from home | 21.5%±5.8 VT: 16.9% |
21.8%±6.4 VT: 16.9% |
12.6%±6.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Williston and Jericho 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 | — | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 |
| High school in town | None in town | Mt. Mansfield Union High School | — | 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 |
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.