Compare towns
Williston vs Hooksett vs Epping 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%).
Hooksett has the highest household income ($118k).
Epping has the most people working from home (24%).
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 | Hooksett | Epping | Essex Junction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,144 |
15,057Highest |
7,430Lowest |
10,803 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+14.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.4±4.5Highest 17% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5 6% above U.S. |
45.1±3.5 16% above U.S. |
39.3±3.1Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Williston and Epping 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% |
17.4%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±4.8 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% |
17.3%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Epping 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
37%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
52.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.7%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hooksett and Essex Junction 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. |
$117,962±$11kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$104,220±$7k 29% above U.S. |
$89,257±$16kLowest 11% above U.S. |
| Hooksett 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±$40kHighest 43% above U.S. |
$407,000±$26kLowest 22% above U.S. |
$436,900±$35k 31% above U.S. |
$407,500±$20k 22% above U.S. |
| Williston and Epping 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. |
$1,661±$206 18% above U.S. |
$1,742±$576 23% above U.S. |
$1,544±$135Lowest 9% above U.S. |
| Williston and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,592Lowest 79% above U.S. |
$6,554 110% above U.S. |
$6,936Highest 122% above U.S. |
$6,797 118% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±17.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
67.8%±25.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
61.3%±14.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Epping 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% |
3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
59.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1989 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1983Lowest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 25% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
32 minHighest 22% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.3%±7.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
24%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.9%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Epping 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 | #30 of 120 in NH | #77 of 120 in NH | #14 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Hooksett School District | Epping School District | Essex Westford Educational Community Unified Union SD #51 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Epping High School | Essex High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.3Lowest |
11.7Highest |
| 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.