Compare towns
Williston vs Pawlet vs Essex
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%).
Pawlet has the most affordable homes ($266k 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 | Pawlet | Essex |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,144 |
1,480Lowest |
11,516Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+12.8% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.4±4.5 5% above VT |
47.9±7.5Highest 11% above VT |
42.4±1.9Lowest about the VT average |
| Pawlet and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
20.3%±5.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
22.4%±3.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Essex and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
27.3%±2.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.9%±3.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.9% VT: 43.8% |
37.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
57.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.7Highest VT: 7% |
4.4%±2.9 VT: 7% |
2.8%±1.2Lowest VT: 7% |
| Williston and Pawlet 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 |
$62,273±$14kLowest 23% below VT |
$110,199±$14kHighest 36% above VT |
| 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 50% above VT |
$266,200±$44kLowest 16% below VT |
$447,300±$14k 41% above VT |
| 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 48% above VT |
$1,153±$215Lowest 7% below VT |
$1,569±$138 27% above VT |
| 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 11% above VT |
$3,924Lowest 22% below VT |
$6,602Highest 31% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±17.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
42.6%±21.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
45.9%±13.1 VT: 48.4% |
| 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 VT: 10.1% |
10%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
87.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
75.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
1964Lowest 12 yrs older than VT |
1990 14 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 16% below VT |
33 minHighest 40% above VT |
22 min 6% below VT |
| Work from home | 22.3%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
20.4%±8.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
21.5%±5.8 VT: 16.9% |
| 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 | — | #13 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Mettawee School District #84 | Essex Westford Educational Community Unified Union SD #51 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.