Compare towns
Williston vs Putnam 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 the shortest commute (20 min average).
Putnam has the most affordable homes ($269k 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 | Putnam | Essex |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,144 |
9,292Lowest |
11,516Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +12.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.4±4.5Highest 17% above U.S. |
43.7±3 12% above U.S. |
42.4±1.9Lowest 9% above U.S. |
| Williston and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.5%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Essex and Williston 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% |
18.5%±3.1Lowest 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% |
20%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% |
3.9%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Williston and Putnam 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. |
$70,561±$7kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$110,199±$14kHighest 36% above U.S. |
| 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 43% above U.S. |
$269,200±$11kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$447,300±$14k 34% above U.S. |
| 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 30% above U.S. |
$1,149±$44Lowest 19% 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. |
$3,860Lowest 24% above U.S. |
$6,602Highest 112% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±17.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.9%±13.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
11.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1990 10 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
25 minHighest 6% below U.S. |
22 min 17% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.3%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±2.8Lowest 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 | #128 of 149 in CT | #13 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Putnam School District | Essex Westford Educational Community Unified Union SD #51 |
| High school in town | None in town | Putnam High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.5 |
— |
| 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.