Compare towns
Williston vs Bow 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Bow has the highest household income ($173k).
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 | Bow | Essex Junction |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,144 |
8,335Lowest |
10,803Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+14.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.4±4.5Highest 17% above U.S. |
41.5±2 7% above U.S. |
39.3±3.1Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Williston and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.5%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
25%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Bow and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21%±3.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Williston and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
60.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
52.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.7%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Essex Junction and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $106,967±$12k 32% above U.S. |
$172,857±$16kHighest 114% above U.S. |
$89,257±$16kLowest 11% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $475,800±$40k 43% above U.S. |
$506,500±$34kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$407,500±$20kLowest 22% above U.S. |
| Bow and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,832±$130Highest 30% above U.S. |
$1,539±$178Lowest 9% above U.S. |
$1,544±$135 9% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,592Lowest 79% above U.S. |
$9,584Highest 207% above U.S. |
$6,797 118% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±17.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
39%±13.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
61.3%±14.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Essex Junction and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
59.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1983Lowest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 25% below U.S. |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.3%±7.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.9%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Bow 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 | #11 of 70 in VT | #26 of 120 in NH | #14 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Bow School District | Essex Westford Educational Community Unified Union SD #51 |
| High school in town | None in town | Bow High School | Essex High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8Highest |
11.7Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.