Compare towns
Williston vs Needham 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%).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
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 | Needham | Essex |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,144Lowest |
32,459Highest |
11,516 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.4±4.5Highest 17% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6 11% above U.S. |
42.4±1.9Lowest 9% above U.S. |
| Williston and Needham 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% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
22.4%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Needham and Essex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21%±3.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.9%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Williston and Essex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
57.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Williston and Needham 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. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$110,199±$14k 36% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $475,800±$40k 43% above U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$447,300±$14kLowest 34% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,832±$130 30% above U.S. |
$2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
$1,569±$138Lowest 11% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,592Lowest 79% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,602 112% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±17.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.9%±13.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Needham and Williston 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% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1990 10 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
22 min 17% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.3%±7.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.5%±5.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #11 of 70 in VT | #19 of 282 in MA | #13 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | — | Essex Westford Educational Community Unified Union SD #51 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| 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.