Compare towns
Williston vs South Burlington 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 the most homeowners (75.1%).
South Burlington has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Essex Junction has the most affordable homes ($408k median).
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 | South Burlington | Essex Junction |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,144Lowest |
20,756Highest |
10,803 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+13.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+14.2% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.4±4.5Highest 5% above VT |
38.2±1.8Lowest 11% below VT |
39.3±3.1 9% below VT |
| Williston and Essex Junction are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.5%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
19%±2.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
19.6%±3.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Williston and Essex Junction are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21%±3.5Highest VT: 21.4% |
17.8%±2.1 VT: 21.4% |
14.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Williston and South Burlington 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% |
67.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
52.4%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.7Lowest VT: 7% |
6.5%±2 VT: 7% |
6.7%±2.2Highest VT: 7% |
| Essex Junction and South Burlington 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 VT |
$106,667±$13k 31% above VT |
$89,257±$16kLowest 10% above VT |
| Williston and South Burlington 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 |
$443,400±$19k 40% above VT |
$407,500±$20kLowest 29% above VT |
| Williston and South Burlington 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 |
$1,787±$59 45% above VT |
$1,544±$135Lowest 25% above VT |
| Williston and South Burlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,592Lowest 11% above VT |
$6,674 32% above VT |
$6,797Highest 35% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±17.4 VT: 48.4% |
42.9%±7.6Lowest 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%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
7.2% VT: 10.1% |
9.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
61.6% VT: 73.2% |
59.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
1989 13 yrs newer than VT |
1983Lowest 7 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minHighest 16% below VT |
18 minLowest 25% below VT |
19 min 18% below VT |
| Work from home | 22.3%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
19.6%±3.3 VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Williston and South Burlington 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 | #12 of 70 in VT | #14 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | South Burlington School District | Essex Westford Educational Community Unified Union SD #51 |
| High school in town | None in town | South Burlington High School | Essex High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.0Lowest |
11.7Highest |
| 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.