Compare towns
Williston vs Burlington 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 most homeowners (75.1%).
Burlington has the youngest population (median age 26.8).
Essex Junction has the most affordable homes ($408k median).
Burlington is a college town. 32.3% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Burlington | Essex Junction |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,144Lowest |
44,675Highest |
10,803 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+14.2% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.4±4.5Highest 5% above VT |
26.8±0.8Lowest 38% below VT |
39.3±3.1 9% below VT |
| Williston and Essex Junction are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.5%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.1%±1.2Lowest 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%±3.5Highest VT: 21.4% |
12.1%±1.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
14.9%±2.5 VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.9% VT: 43.8% |
60.5%Highest VT: 43.8% |
52.4%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.7Lowest VT: 7% |
32.3%±2.2Highest VT: 7% |
6.7%±2.2 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $106,967±$12kHighest 32% above VT |
$71,109±$4kLowest 12% below VT |
$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 |
$444,800±$19k 40% above VT |
$407,500±$20kLowest 29% above VT |
| Williston and Burlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
$1,649±$53 34% above VT |
$1,544±$135Lowest 25% above VT |
| Williston and Burlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,592Lowest 11% above VT |
$7,335Highest 46% above VT |
$6,797 35% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±17.4Lowest VT: 48.4% |
55.6%±4.9 VT: 48.4% |
61.3%±14.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Essex Junction and Burlington 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% |
20.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
9.5% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
41.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
59.3% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
1957Lowest 19 yrs older than VT |
1983 7 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minHighest 16% below VT |
19 minLowest 20% below VT |
19 min 18% below VT |
| Work from home | 22.3%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
19%±2.5 VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Williston and Burlington 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 | #23 of 70 in VT | #14 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Burlington School District | Essex Westford Educational Community Unified Union SD #51 |
| High school in town | None in town | Burlington High School | Essex High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1Highest |
11.7Lowest |
| 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.