Compare towns
Williston vs Meredith vs Bartlett 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 the highest household income ($107k).
Meredith has the most people working from home (23.7%).
Bartlett has the most affordable homes ($371k median).
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 | Meredith | Bartlett | Essex Junction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,144 |
6,758 |
3,281Lowest |
10,803Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+14.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+14.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.4±4.5 17% above U.S. |
55.5±3.7 43% above U.S. |
57.4±4.7Highest 48% above U.S. |
39.3±3.1Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Bartlett and Meredith 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% |
12.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
7.5%±2.7Lowest 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% |
34.2%±5 U.S.: 17.2% |
36.1%±9.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bartlett and Meredith 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% |
45.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
36.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
52.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.1%±0.4Lowest 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±$12kHighest 32% above U.S. |
$87,019±$19k 8% above U.S. |
$59,754±$9kLowest 26% below U.S. |
$89,257±$16k 11% above U.S. |
| Williston and Essex Junction 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. |
$480,100±$48kHighest 44% above U.S. |
$371,400±$78kLowest 12% above U.S. |
$407,500±$20k 22% above U.S. |
| Meredith 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. |
$1,149±$304Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,676±$97 19% above U.S. |
$1,544±$135 9% above U.S. |
| Williston and Bartlett 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. |
$5,006 61% above U.S. |
$2,512Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$6,797Highest 118% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±17.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.5%±9.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
68.5%±37.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
61.3%±14.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Bartlett 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% |
7.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
79%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
59.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 25% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
31 minHighest 16% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.3%±7.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
23.7%±4.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.5%±7.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.9%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Meredith 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 | #62 of 120 in NH | #74 of 120 in NH | #14 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | Bartlett School District | Essex Westford Educational Community Unified Union SD #51 |
| High school in town | None in town | Inter-Lakes High School | None in town | Essex High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1Lowest |
— | 11.7Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.