Compare towns
Williston vs Essex Junction vs Stowe
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).
Essex Junction has the most renters (40.7% rent).
Stowe has the most expensive homes ($648k median).
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 | Essex Junction | Stowe |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,144 |
10,803Highest |
5,285Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.2% VT: +2.8% |
+14.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+21.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.4±4.5 5% above VT |
39.3±3.1Lowest 9% below VT |
46.3±7.6Highest 7% above VT |
| Stowe 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 VT: 17.9% |
19.6%±3.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
22.5%±4.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Stowe and Williston 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% |
14.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
25.8%±6.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Stowe 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% VT: 43.8% |
52.4%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
66.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.7 VT: 7% |
6.7%±2.2Highest VT: 7% |
1.6%±1.6Lowest 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 |
$89,257±$16kLowest 10% above VT |
$93,618±$33k 15% above VT |
| Williston and Stowe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $475,800±$40k 50% above VT |
$407,500±$20kLowest 29% above VT |
$647,800±$157kHighest 105% above VT |
| Stowe 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 48% above VT |
$1,544±$135 25% above VT |
$1,458±$242Lowest 18% above VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,592Lowest 11% above VT |
$6,797 35% above VT |
$7,161Highest 42% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±17.4 VT: 48.4% |
61.3%±14.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
24.5%±15.9Lowest 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% |
9.5% VT: 10.1% |
9.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.1% VT: 73.2% |
59.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
78.6%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
1983 7 yrs newer than VT |
1982Lowest 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minHighest 16% below VT |
19 minLowest 18% below VT |
19 minLowest 18% below VT |
| Work from home | 22.3%±7.6 VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
24.4%±8.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Stowe 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 | #14 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Essex Westford Educational Community Unified Union SD #51 | Stowe Town School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Essex High School | Stowe High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.7Highest |
11.3Lowest |
| 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.