Compare towns
Williston vs Saugus vs Essex Junction
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 most people working from home (22.3%).
Saugus has the most expensive homes ($603k 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 | Saugus | Essex Junction |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,144Lowest |
28,773Highest |
10,803 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+14.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.4±4.5Highest 17% above U.S. |
44.5±2.5 14% above U.S. |
39.3±3.1Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Williston and Saugus are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.5%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.2%±2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Williston and Essex Junction are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
22%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Saugus 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
31.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
52.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.7%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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±$12kHighest 32% above U.S. |
$101,539±$3k 26% above U.S. |
$89,257±$16kLowest 11% above U.S. |
| Williston and Saugus are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $475,800±$40k 43% above U.S. |
$603,400±$13kHighest 81% above U.S. |
$407,500±$20kLowest 22% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,832±$130 30% above U.S. |
$2,241±$201Highest 59% above U.S. |
$1,544±$135Lowest 9% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,592Lowest 79% above U.S. |
$6,049 94% above U.S. |
$6,797Highest 118% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±17.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
53%±9.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
61.3%±14.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Essex Junction and Saugus 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% |
6% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
59.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1962Lowest 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 25% below U.S. |
30 minHighest 12% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.3%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.3%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.9%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Williston and Essex Junction 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 | #194 of 282 in MA | #14 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | — | Essex Westford Educational Community Unified Union SD #51 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Essex High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.7 |
| 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.