Compare towns
Williston vs Bartlett vs Castleton vs Essex Junction
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Williston has the most people working from home (22.3%).
Bartlett has the oldest population (median age 57.4).
Castleton has the most affordable homes ($225k median).
Essex Junction has the most renters (40.7% rent).
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 | Williston | Bartlett | Castleton | Essex Junction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,144 |
3,281Lowest |
4,453 |
10,803Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+14.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+14.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.4±4.5 17% above U.S. |
57.4±4.7Highest 48% above U.S. |
38.3±4.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
39.3±3.1 about the U.S. average |
| Kids under 18 | 20.5%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
7.5%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±6.4 U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Williston and Essex Junction are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
36.1%±9.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
52.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.1%±0.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
19.3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.7%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $106,967±$12kHighest 32% above U.S. |
$59,754±$9kLowest 26% below U.S. |
$73,854±$23k 9% below U.S. |
$89,257±$16k 11% above U.S. |
| 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 | $475,800±$40kHighest 43% above U.S. |
$371,400±$78k 12% above U.S. |
$224,800±$71kLowest 32% below U.S. |
$407,500±$20k 22% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,832±$130Highest 30% above U.S. |
$1,676±$97 19% above U.S. |
$1,137±$195Lowest 20% below U.S. |
$1,544±$135 9% above U.S. |
| Williston and Bartlett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,592 79% above U.S. |
$2,512Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$3,167 about the U.S. average |
$6,797Highest 118% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±17.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
68.5%±37.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
67.7%±21.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
61.3%±14.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Bartlett and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
79%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
59.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 25% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 16% above U.S. |
19 min 27% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.3%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.5%±7.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.9%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #11 of 70 in VT | #74 of 120 in NH | #39 of 70 in VT | #14 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Bartlett School District | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Essex Westford Educational Community Unified Union SD #51 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | Essex High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 11.7 |
| 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.