Compare towns
Essex vs Ogunquit vs Williston vs Stowe
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 youngest population (median age 42.4).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Williston has the most renters (24.9% rent).
Stowe has the shortest commute (19 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 | Ogunquit | Williston | Stowe |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,516Highest |
1,379Lowest |
10,144 |
5,285 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+21.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.4±1.9Lowest 9% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
45.4±4.5 17% above U.S. |
46.3±7.6 19% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 22.4%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
22.5%±4.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Stowe and Essex 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% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
25.8%±6.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 57.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
66.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.6%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Williston and Ogunquit 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. |
$114,259±$56kHighest 42% above U.S. |
$106,967±$12k 32% above U.S. |
$93,618±$33kLowest 16% above U.S. |
| Ogunquit 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±$14kLowest 34% above U.S. |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
$475,800±$40k 43% above U.S. |
$647,800±$157k 95% above U.S. |
| Ogunquit and Stowe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,569±$138 11% above U.S. |
— | $1,832±$130Highest 30% above U.S. |
$1,458±$242Lowest 3% above U.S. |
| Williston and Essex 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. |
$4,473Lowest 43% above U.S. |
$5,592 79% above U.S. |
$7,161Highest 130% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.9%±13.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±17.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
24.5%±15.9 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1990 10 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 17% below U.S. |
26 minHighest about the U.S. average |
20 min 25% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.5%±5.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±7.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
24.4%±8.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ogunquit and Stowe 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 | — | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Stowe Town School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town | Stowe High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 11.3 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 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.