Compare towns
White River Junction vs Essex Junction vs Williston vs Wilder
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
White River Junction has the most renters (56.1% rent).
Williston has the most people working from home (22.3%).
Wilder has grown the fastest since 2010 (+81.7%).
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 | White River Junction | Essex Junction | Williston | Wilder |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,364 |
10,803Highest |
10,144 |
3,087Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+14.2% VT: +2.8% |
+16.2% VT: +2.8% |
+81.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 33.7±3.2Lowest 22% below VT |
39.3±3.1 9% below VT |
45.4±4.5 5% above VT |
45.5±8.9Highest 6% above VT |
| Wilder and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.1%±5 VT: 17.9% |
19.6%±3.2 VT: 17.9% |
20.5%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±4.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Williston and Essex Junction are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 12.5%±3.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
14.9%±2.5 VT: 21.4% |
21%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
27.3%±4.4Highest 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+ | 38.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
52.4% VT: 43.8% |
54.9% VT: 43.8% |
60.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.2%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
6.7%±2.2 VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7 VT: 7% |
8.1%±3.9Highest VT: 7% |
| Wilder and Essex Junction are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $77,168±$4k 5% below VT |
$89,257±$16k 10% above VT |
$106,967±$12kHighest 32% above VT |
$75,143±$9kLowest 7% below VT |
| Williston and Essex Junction are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $278,800±$78k 12% below VT |
$407,500±$20k 29% above VT |
$475,800±$40kHighest 50% above VT |
$273,200±$18kLowest 14% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,222±$216 about the VT average |
$1,544±$135 25% above VT |
$1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
$1,142±$451Lowest 7% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,651 12% above VT |
$6,797Highest 35% above VT |
$5,592 11% above VT |
$5,505Lowest 9% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.9%±17.3 VT: 48.4% |
61.3%±14.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4 VT: 48.4% |
39.9%±17.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Essex Junction and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 12.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
9.5% VT: 10.1% |
4.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
9.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 43.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
59.3% VT: 73.2% |
75.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
62.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963Lowest 13 yrs older than VT |
1983 7 yrs newer than VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
1983 7 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 15 minLowest 35% below VT |
19 min 18% below VT |
20 minHighest 16% below VT |
17 min 29% below VT |
| Work from home | 15.7%±5.8 VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±4 VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.6%±6.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Williston and Essex Junction 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 | — | #14 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 | — |
| High school in town | — | Essex High School | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.7 |
— | — |
| 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.