Compare towns

Williston vs Exeter vs Jericho 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Exeter has the most affordable homes ($243k median).
Jericho has the highest household income ($117k).
Essex Junction has the most renters (40.7% rent).

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.

MeasureWillistonExeterJerichoEssex Junction
People
Population
10,144
913Lowest
5,114
10,803Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+16.2%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-14.4%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+1.9%
U.S.: +7.4%
+14.2%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
45.4±4.5
17% above U.S.
51.7±12.6Highest
33% above U.S.
49.7±5.1
28% above U.S.
39.3±3.1Lowest
about the U.S. average
Exeter and Jericho 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%
22.7%±7.1Highest
U.S.: 22%
19.5%±4.2Lowest
U.S.: 22%
19.6%±3.2
U.S.: 22%
Exeter 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%
26.9%±10.5Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
20.2%±4.4
U.S.: 17.2%
14.9%±2.5Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Exeter 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%
28.2%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
65.3%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
52.4%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.7%±2.7
U.S.: 6.4%
1%±1.9Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.4%±1.6
U.S.: 6.4%
6.7%±2.2Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
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 U.S.
$77,550±$19kLowest
4% below U.S.
$116,923±$16kHighest
45% above U.S.
$89,257±$16k
11% above U.S.
Jericho 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.
$243,000±$89kLowest
27% below U.S.
$493,100±$38kHighest
48% above U.S.
$407,500±$20k
22% above U.S.
Jericho 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.
$867±$44Lowest
39% below U.S.
$1,731±$111
23% above U.S.
$1,544±$135
9% above U.S.
Williston and Jericho 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.
$2,926Lowest
6% below U.S.
$7,318Highest
135% above U.S.
$6,797
118% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
46.9%±17.4
U.S.: 51.1%
0%±100Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
79.3%±52.9Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
61.3%±14.5
U.S.: 51.1%
Jericho 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%
U.S.: 12.5%
4.3%
U.S.: 12.5%
0.9%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
9.5%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
75.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
97.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
92.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
59.3%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1993Highest
13 yrs newer than U.S.
1977Lowest
3 yrs older than U.S.
1983
3 yrs newer than U.S.
1983
3 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
20 min
25% below U.S.
29 minHighest
9% above U.S.
26 min
about the U.S. average
19 minLowest
27% below U.S.
Work from home
22.3%±7.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
14.4%±10.4Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
21.8%±6.4
U.S.: 15.1%
16.9%±4
U.S.: 15.1%
Williston and Jericho 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 — #6 of 70 in VT #14 of 70 in VT
School district Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 — Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 Essex Westford Educational Community Unified Union SD #51
High school in town None in town — Mt. Mansfield Union High School Essex High School
Students per teacherat that high school — —
13.0Highest
11.7Lowest
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.