Compare towns
Williston vs Durham 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 homeowners (75.1%).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Essex Junction has the most affordable homes ($408k median).
Durham is a college town. 55.1% 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 | Durham | Essex Junction |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,144Lowest |
15,080Highest |
10,803 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+14.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.4±4.5Highest 17% above U.S. |
20.8±0.3Lowest 47% below U.S. |
39.3±3.1 about the U.S. average |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest 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%±3.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.9%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
75.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
52.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
55.1%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.7%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $106,967±$12k 32% above U.S. |
$124,056±$21kHighest 54% above U.S. |
$89,257±$16kLowest 11% above U.S. |
| Durham 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±$40k 43% above U.S. |
$504,300±$41kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$407,500±$20kLowest 22% above U.S. |
| Durham 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. |
$1,429±$143Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,544±$135 9% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,592Lowest 79% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,797 118% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±17.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
66.4%±16Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
61.3%±14.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Durham and Essex Junction 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% |
15.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
64.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
59.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981Lowest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minHighest 25% below 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% |
19.4%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.9%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Williston and Durham 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 | #9 of 120 in NH | #14 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Oyster River Coop School District | Essex Westford Educational Community Unified Union SD #51 |
| High school in town | None in town | Oyster River High School | Essex High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.3Highest |
11.7Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 51 photos → | 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.