Compare towns
Williston vs Milo 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%).
Milo has the most affordable homes ($165k median).
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 | Milo | Essex |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,144 |
6,823Lowest |
11,516Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.4±4.5Highest 17% above U.S. |
42.7±5.2 10% above U.S. |
42.4±1.9Lowest 9% above U.S. |
| Williston and Milo 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% |
20.9%±3 U.S.: 22% |
22.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Essex and Milo 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% |
27.8%±4.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.9%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Milo 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% |
22.8%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% |
1.4%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Williston and Essex 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. |
$62,500±$9kLowest 23% below U.S. |
$110,199±$14kHighest 36% above U.S. |
| Essex 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. |
$165,200±$16kLowest 50% below U.S. |
$447,300±$14k 34% above U.S. |
| Williston and Essex 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. |
$733±$137Lowest 48% below U.S. |
$1,569±$138 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 | $5,592 79% above U.S. |
$3,425Lowest 10% above U.S. |
$6,602Highest 112% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±17.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
34.6%±13.5Lowest 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%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
65.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1990 10 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 25% below U.S. |
16 minLowest 39% below U.S. |
22 minHighest 17% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.3%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.3%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.5%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Williston and Essex 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 | #84 of 484 in NY | #13 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | PENN YAN CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | Essex Westford Educational Community Unified Union SD #51 |
| High school in town | None in town | PENN YAN ACADEMY | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.8 |
— |
| 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.