Compare towns
Williston vs Freeport 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%).
Freeport has the oldest population (median age 48.8).
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.
| Measure | Williston | Freeport | Essex Junction |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,144 |
8,802Lowest |
10,803Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+14.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.4±4.5 17% above U.S. |
48.8±4.3Highest 25% above U.S. |
39.3±3.1Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Freeport and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.5%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±3.5Lowest 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%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.7%±4.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Freeport 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% |
59.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
52.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.3Lowest 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. |
$107,326±$19kHighest 33% above U.S. |
$89,257±$16kLowest 11% above U.S. |
| Freeport 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. |
$508,400±$76kHighest 53% above U.S. |
$407,500±$20kLowest 22% above U.S. |
| Freeport 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. |
$1,439±$123Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,544±$135 9% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,592 79% above U.S. |
$5,042Lowest 62% above U.S. |
$6,797Highest 118% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±17.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
62%±18.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
61.3%±14.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Freeport 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% |
8.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
77.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
59.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1983Lowest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 25% below U.S. |
24 minHighest 11% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.3%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.2%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.9%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Williston and Freeport 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 | #4 of 133 in ME | #14 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | RSU 05 | Essex Westford Educational Community Unified Union SD #51 |
| High school in town | None in town | Freeport High School | Essex High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.2Highest |
11.7Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.