Compare towns

Williston vs Newcomb 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 most people working from home (22.3%).
Newcomb has the most affordable homes ($255k 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.

MeasureWillistonNewcombEssex Junction
People
Population
10,144
490Lowest
10,803Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+16.2%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
—
+14.2%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
45.4±4.5
17% above U.S.
59.1±10.1Highest
52% above U.S.
39.3±3.1Lowest
about the U.S. average
Newcomb and Williston 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%
9.4%±4.7Lowest
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%
31.4%±6.7Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
14.9%±2.5Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
54.9%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
34.9%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
52.4%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.7%±2.7Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
13.3%±5Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
6.7%±2.2
U.S.: 6.4%
Newcomb 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.
$108,750±$25kHighest
35% above U.S.
$89,257±$16kLowest
11% above U.S.
Newcomb 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.
$254,800±$47kLowest
23% below U.S.
$407,500±$20k
22% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,832±$130Highest
30% above U.S.
—
$1,544±$135Lowest
9% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,592
79% above U.S.
$1,488Lowest
52% below U.S.
$6,797Highest
118% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
46.9%±17.4
U.S.: 51.1%
0%±100Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
61.3%±14.5Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Essex Junction 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%
2.3%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
9.5%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
75.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
91%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
59.3%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1993Highest
13 yrs newer than U.S.
1964Lowest
16 yrs older than U.S.
1983
3 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
20 minHighest
25% below U.S.
17 minLowest
36% below U.S.
19 min
27% below U.S.
Work from home
22.3%±7.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
10.2%±7.8Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
16.9%±4
U.S.: 15.1%
Williston and Essex Junction 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 — #14 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 — Essex High School
Students per teacherat that high school — —
11.7
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.