Compare towns
Essex vs Windham 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 affordable homes ($447k median).
Windham has the highest household income ($190k).
Williston has the shortest commute (20 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 | Windham | Williston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,516 |
16,038Highest |
10,144Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.4±1.9 9% above U.S. |
41.1±2.9Lowest 6% above U.S. |
45.4±4.5Highest 17% above U.S. |
| Williston and Essex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.4%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
27.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Windham and Essex 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% |
15.5%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21%±3.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
62.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Williston and Windham 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. |
$189,583±$19kHighest 135% above U.S. |
$106,967±$12kLowest 32% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $447,300±$14kLowest 34% above U.S. |
$723,300±$50kHighest 117% above U.S. |
$475,800±$40k 43% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,569±$138Lowest 11% above U.S. |
$3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
$1,832±$130 30% above U.S. |
| 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%±13.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.2%±50.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±17.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Windham 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% |
2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1990Lowest 10 yrs newer than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1993 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 17% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.5%±5.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Williston and Windham 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 | #13 of 120 in NH | #11 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Essex Westford Educational Community Unified Union SD #51 | Windham School District | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 |
| High school in town | None in town | Windham High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8 |
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| 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.