Compare towns
Williston vs Northbridge 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%).
Northbridge has the most renters (29.5% rent).
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 | Northbridge | Essex |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,144Lowest |
16,458Highest |
11,516 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.4±4.5Highest 17% above U.S. |
43.8±2.6 13% above U.S. |
42.4±1.9Lowest 9% above U.S. |
| Williston and Northbridge 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% |
21.1%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
22.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Essex and Northbridge 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% |
16.4%±2.1Lowest 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
36.9%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% |
4.3%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Williston and Northbridge 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. |
$111,319±$19kHighest 38% above U.S. |
$110,199±$14k 36% above U.S. |
| Northbridge 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±$40kHighest 43% above U.S. |
$448,600±$15k 35% above U.S. |
$447,300±$14kLowest 34% above U.S. |
| Williston and Northbridge 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. |
$1,207±$102Lowest 15% 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. |
$4,821Lowest 55% above U.S. |
$6,602Highest 112% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±17.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
51.2%±9.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.9%±13.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Northbridge and Williston 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% |
7.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
70.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1990 10 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
22 min 17% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.3%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.2%±3.6Lowest 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 | #226 of 282 in MA | #13 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Northbridge | Essex Westford Educational Community Unified Union SD #51 |
| High school in town | None in town | Northbridge High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.8 |
— |
| 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.