Compare towns
Williston vs Castleton vs Bethlehem vs Essex
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%).
Castleton has the most affordable homes ($225k median).
Bethlehem has the most people working from home (31.2%).
Essex has the most kids (22.4% under 18).
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 | Castleton | Bethlehem | Essex |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,144 |
4,453 |
2,537Lowest |
11,516Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.4±4.5 17% above U.S. |
38.3±4.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
50.6±8.5Highest 30% above U.S. |
42.4±1.9 9% above U.S. |
| Bethlehem and Williston 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% |
18.8%±6.4 U.S.: 22% |
17.7%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Essex and Williston 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% |
20.7%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
28.2%±5.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.9%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bethlehem and Williston 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% |
37.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
57.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
19.3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.9%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $106,967±$12k 32% above U.S. |
$73,854±$23kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$85,029±$18k 5% above U.S. |
$110,199±$14kHighest 36% above U.S. |
| Essex and Williston 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. |
$224,800±$71kLowest 32% below U.S. |
$288,300±$22k 13% below U.S. |
$447,300±$14k 34% above U.S. |
| Williston and Essex 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. |
$1,137±$195Lowest 20% below U.S. |
$1,174±$81 17% below U.S. |
$1,569±$138 11% above U.S. |
| Williston and Essex 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. |
$3,167Lowest about the U.S. average |
$5,418 74% above U.S. |
$6,602Highest 112% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±17.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.7%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.3%±18.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.9%±13.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Castleton 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
12.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1990 10 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 25% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
20 min 23% below U.S. |
22 minHighest 17% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.3%±7.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
31.2%±12.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.5%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Bethlehem 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 | #39 of 70 in VT | #34 of 120 in NH | #13 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Bethlehem School District · Profile School District | Essex Westford Educational Community Unified Union SD #51 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Profile Senior High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 8.9 |
— |
| 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.