Compare towns
Williston vs Essex Junction vs Stowe vs Shelburne
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Essex Junction has the most renters (40.7% rent).
Stowe has grown the fastest since 2010 (+21.1%).
Shelburne has the most people working from home (31.4%).
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 | Shelburne |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,144 |
10,803Highest |
5,285Lowest |
7,969 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.2% VT: +2.8% |
+14.2% VT: +2.8% |
+21.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.4±4.5 5% above VT |
39.3±3.1Lowest 9% below VT |
46.3±7.6 7% above VT |
50.9±3.2Highest 18% above VT |
| Shelburne and Stowe 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% |
20.2%±3.9 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%±6.2 VT: 21.4% |
29.2%±4.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Shelburne and Stowe 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% VT: 43.8% |
70.2%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% |
4.7%±2.9 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±$12k 32% above VT |
$89,257±$16kLowest 10% above VT |
$93,618±$33k 15% above VT |
$115,963±$16kHighest 43% above VT |
| Shelburne 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 50% above VT |
$407,500±$20kLowest 29% above VT |
$647,800±$157kHighest 105% above VT |
$588,100±$44k 86% above VT |
| Stowe and Shelburne 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±$242 18% above VT |
$1,442±$589Lowest 17% above VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,592Lowest 11% above VT |
$6,797 35% above VT |
$7,161 42% above VT |
$8,173Highest 62% 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% |
43.7%±10.6 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% |
8.4% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.1% VT: 73.2% |
59.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
78.6%Highest VT: 73.2% |
69.9% 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 |
1986 10 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 16% below VT |
19 minLowest 18% below VT |
19 minLowest 18% below VT |
20 minHighest 14% below VT |
| Work from home | 22.3%±7.6 VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
24.4%±8.9 VT: 16.9% |
31.4%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Shelburne and Stowe 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 | — | #8 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 | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 |
| High school in town | None in town | Essex High School | Stowe High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.7Highest |
11.3Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.