Compare towns
Williston vs Hartford vs Jericho vs Essex
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Hartford has the most affordable homes ($305k median).
Jericho has the most homeowners (92.9%).
Essex has the most kids (22.4% under 18).
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 | Hartford | Jericho | Essex |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,144 |
10,736 |
5,114Lowest |
11,516Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+7.4% VT: +2.8% |
+1.9%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+12.8% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.4±4.5 5% above VT |
43.2±3.9 about the VT average |
49.7±5.1Highest 15% above VT |
42.4±1.9Lowest about the VT average |
| Jericho 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% |
18%±3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
19.5%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
22.4%±3.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Essex 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% |
22.5%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.2%±4.4 VT: 21.4% |
19.9%±3.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Hartford 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% |
47.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
65.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
57.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.7Highest VT: 7% |
4.9%±1.7 VT: 7% |
2.4%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
2.8%±1.2 VT: 7% |
| Williston and Hartford 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 |
$78,125±$7kLowest 4% below VT |
$116,923±$16kHighest 44% above VT |
$110,199±$14k 36% above VT |
| Jericho and Essex 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 |
$304,500±$26kLowest 4% below VT |
$493,100±$38kHighest 56% above VT |
$447,300±$14k 41% above VT |
| 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 48% above VT |
$1,218±$118Lowest about the VT average |
$1,731±$111 40% above VT |
$1,569±$138 27% above VT |
| Williston and Jericho are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,592Lowest 11% above VT |
$5,773 15% above VT |
$7,318Highest 45% above VT |
$6,602 31% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±17.4 VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±12.7Lowest VT: 48.4% |
79.3%±52.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
45.9%±13.1 VT: 48.4% |
| Jericho and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.3% VT: 10.1% |
11.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
0.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
5% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.1% VT: 73.2% |
67.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
75.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
1979Lowest 3 yrs newer than VT |
1983 7 yrs newer than VT |
1990 14 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 16% below VT |
18 minLowest 22% below VT |
26 minHighest 10% above VT |
22 min 6% below VT |
| Work from home | 22.3%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
13.9%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
21.8%±6.4 VT: 16.9% |
21.5%±5.8 VT: 16.9% |
| 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 | #34 of 70 in VT | #6 of 70 in VT | #13 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Hartford School District | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 | Essex Westford Educational Community Unified Union SD #51 |
| High school in town | None in town | Hartford High School | Mt. Mansfield Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.6Lowest |
13.0Highest |
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| 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.