Compare towns
Williston vs Braintree vs Essex Junction
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Williston has the highest household income ($107k).
Braintree has the most affordable homes ($218k 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 | Braintree | Essex Junction |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,144 |
1,026Lowest |
10,803Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+14.2% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.4±4.5 5% above VT |
58.4±2.4Highest 35% above VT |
39.3±3.1Lowest 9% below VT |
| Kids under 18 | 20.5%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
12.3%±3.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
19.6%±3.2 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+ | 21%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
33.2%±3.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
14.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
30.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
52.4% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.7 VT: 7% |
1.8%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
6.7%±2.2Highest VT: 7% |
| 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±$12kHighest 32% above VT |
$79,803±$5kLowest about the VT average |
$89,257±$16k 10% above 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 | $475,800±$40kHighest 50% above VT |
$217,700±$28kLowest 31% below VT |
$407,500±$20k 29% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
$840±$405Lowest 32% below VT |
$1,544±$135 25% above VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,592 11% above VT |
$3,908Lowest 22% below VT |
$6,797Highest 35% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±17.4 VT: 48.4% |
43.4%±29.4Lowest VT: 48.4% |
61.3%±14.5Highest 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 | 4.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
11.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
9.5% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.1% VT: 73.2% |
81%Highest VT: 73.2% |
59.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
1979Lowest 3 yrs newer than VT |
1983 7 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 16% below VT |
26 minHighest 11% above VT |
19 minLowest 18% below VT |
| Work from home | 22.3%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
19%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Williston and Braintree 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 | — | #14 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Essex Westford Educational Community Unified Union SD #51 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Essex High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.7 |
| 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.