Compare towns
Williston vs Lee vs Essex
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%).
Lee has the most homeowners (95.8%).
Essex has the most affordable homes ($447k median).
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 | Lee | Essex |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,144 |
4,576Lowest |
11,516Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.4±4.5Highest 17% above U.S. |
42.9±1.9 10% above U.S. |
42.4±1.9Lowest 9% above U.S. |
| Williston and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.5%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.9%±5.6 U.S.: 22% |
22.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Essex and Lee 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% |
22.6%±6.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.9%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lee 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% |
50.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
57.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Williston and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $106,967±$12kLowest 32% above U.S. |
$131,579±$54kHighest 63% above U.S. |
$110,199±$14k 36% above U.S. |
| Lee 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 43% above U.S. |
$480,600±$61kHighest 44% above U.S. |
$447,300±$14kLowest 34% above U.S. |
| Lee 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. |
— | $1,569±$138Lowest 11% above U.S. |
| Williston and Essex 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. |
$9,661Highest 210% above U.S. |
$6,602 112% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±17.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.3%±53.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.9%±13.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Williston and Essex 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% |
2.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1987Lowest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1990 10 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 4% above U.S. |
22 min 17% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.3%±7.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
27.6%±8.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.5%±5.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lee 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 | #3 of 120 in NH | #13 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Oyster River Coop School District | Essex Westford Educational Community Unified Union SD #51 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 10 photos → | 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.