Compare towns
Williston vs Norwich vs Essex Junction
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Norwich has the most expensive homes ($638k 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 | Norwich | Essex Junction |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,144 |
3,640Lowest |
10,803Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+5.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+14.2% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.4±4.5Highest 5% above VT |
40.8±3.2 5% below VT |
39.3±3.1Lowest 9% below VT |
| Williston and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
24%±5.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
19.6%±3.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Norwich and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21%±3.5Highest VT: 21.4% |
16%±3.4 VT: 21.4% |
14.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Williston and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.9% VT: 43.8% |
81%Highest VT: 43.8% |
52.4%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.7 VT: 7% |
4.8%±2.4Lowest VT: 7% |
6.7%±2.2Highest VT: 7% |
| 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±$12k 32% above VT |
$140,313±$12kHighest 73% above VT |
$89,257±$16kLowest 10% above VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $475,800±$40k 50% above VT |
$637,500±$76kHighest 101% above VT |
$407,500±$20kLowest 29% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
$1,460±$322Lowest 18% above VT |
$1,544±$135 25% above VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,592Lowest 11% above VT |
$10,000+Highest at least 98% above VT |
$6,797 35% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±17.4 VT: 48.4% |
30.7%±19.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
61.3%±14.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
| 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% VT: 10.1% |
2.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
9.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
71.9% VT: 73.2% |
59.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
1982Lowest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1983 7 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minHighest 16% below VT |
19 minLowest 19% below VT |
19 min 18% below VT |
| Work from home | 22.3%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
21%±5.3 VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Williston and Norwich 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 | #1 of 70 in VT | #14 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Norwich School District | Essex Westford Educational Community Unified Union SD #51 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Essex High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.7 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
VT 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.