Compare towns
Williston vs Proctor vs Sheldon 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%).
Proctor has the most affordable homes ($210k median).
Sheldon has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
Essex has the highest household income ($110k).
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 | Proctor | Sheldon | Essex |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,144 |
1,794Lowest |
2,267 |
11,516Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+1.3% VT: +2.8% |
-2.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+12.8% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.4±4.5Highest 5% above VT |
42.4±6.4 about the VT average |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% below VT |
42.4±1.9 about the VT average |
| Williston and Proctor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.5%±5.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.8%±4.4 VT: 17.9% |
23.7%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
22.4%±3.3 VT: 17.9% |
| Sheldon and Essex 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% |
22.4%±2.5Highest VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
19.9%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
| Proctor and Williston 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% |
28.1% VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
57.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.7Highest VT: 7% |
3.6%±1.7 VT: 7% |
2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
2.8%±1.2 VT: 7% |
| Williston and Proctor 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 |
$74,167±$12kLowest 9% below VT |
$78,533±$25k 3% 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 |
$209,900±$17kLowest 34% below VT |
$272,400±$61k 14% 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 |
$1,029±$202Lowest 17% below VT |
$1,286±$379 4% above 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 |
$4,032 20% below VT |
$3,578Lowest 29% below VT |
$6,602Highest 31% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±17.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
37.3%±16.2 VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest 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% |
16.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.1% VT: 10.1% |
5% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
86.7% VT: 73.2% |
89%Highest VT: 73.2% |
75.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1984 8 yrs newer than VT |
1990 14 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 16% below VT |
22 min 6% below VT |
25 minHighest 7% above VT |
22 min 6% below VT |
| Work from home | 22.3%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
9.4%±4.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7 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 | Quarry Valley Unified Union School District #70 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Essex Westford Educational Community Unified Union SD #51 |
| High school in town | None in town | Proctor Junior/Senior High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.7 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.