Compare towns
Essex vs Williston vs Worcester
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).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Worcester has the most affordable homes ($271k median).
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 | Williston | Worcester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,516Highest |
10,144 |
831Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.8% VT: +2.8% |
+16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42.4±1.9Lowest about the VT average |
45.4±4.5 5% above VT |
47±2.7Highest 9% above VT |
| Worcester 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 VT: 17.9% |
20.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest 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%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
21%±3.5Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±2.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Williston and Essex 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 VT: 43.8% |
54.9% VT: 43.8% |
53%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.2Lowest VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7 VT: 7% |
6.9%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
| Worcester 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±$14kHighest 36% above VT |
$106,967±$12k 32% above VT |
$73,833±$18kLowest 9% below VT |
| Essex and Williston 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 |
$475,800±$40kHighest 50% above VT |
$271,100±$27kLowest 14% below VT |
| Williston and Essex 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 |
$1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
$1,023±$136Lowest 17% below VT |
| Williston and Essex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,602Highest 31% above VT |
$5,592 11% above VT |
$4,421Lowest 12% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.9%±13.1 VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
25.5%±37Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Williston and Essex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5% VT: 10.1% |
4.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
5.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.9% VT: 73.2% |
75.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
85.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1990 14 yrs newer than VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
1976Lowest same as VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 6% below VT |
20 minLowest 16% below VT |
29 minHighest 22% above VT |
| Work from home | 21.5%±5.8Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6 VT: 16.9% |
23.6%±4.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Worcester 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 | #11 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Essex Westford Educational Community Unified Union SD #51 | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.