Compare towns
Williston vs St. Albans vs Essex Junction vs Jericho
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%).
St. Albans has the most affordable homes ($263k median).
Essex Junction has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Jericho has the most homeowners (92.9%).
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 | St. Albans | Essex Junction | Jericho |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,144 |
6,954 |
10,803Highest |
5,114Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+14.2% VT: +2.8% |
+1.9% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.4±4.5 5% above VT |
38.7±2Lowest 10% below VT |
39.3±3.1 9% below VT |
49.7±5.1Highest 15% above VT |
| Jericho and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.5%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
20.5%±3.7Highest VT: 17.9% |
19.6%±3.2 VT: 17.9% |
19.5%±4.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 21%±3.5Highest VT: 21.4% |
13.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
14.9%±2.5 VT: 21.4% |
20.2%±4.4 VT: 21.4% |
| Williston and Jericho 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% |
31.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
52.4% VT: 43.8% |
65.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.7 VT: 7% |
2.7%±1.6 VT: 7% |
6.7%±2.2Highest VT: 7% |
2.4%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
| 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±$12k 32% above VT |
$57,980±$7kLowest 29% below VT |
$89,257±$16k 10% above VT |
$116,923±$16kHighest 44% above VT |
| Jericho 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±$40k 50% above VT |
$263,400±$18kLowest 17% below VT |
$407,500±$20k 29% above VT |
$493,100±$38kHighest 56% above VT |
| Jericho and Williston 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 |
$1,150±$78Lowest 7% below VT |
$1,544±$135 25% above VT |
$1,731±$111 40% above VT |
| Williston and Jericho 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 |
$4,436Lowest 12% below VT |
$6,797 35% above VT |
$7,318Highest 45% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±17.4Lowest VT: 48.4% |
51.8%±11.8 VT: 48.4% |
61.3%±14.5 VT: 48.4% |
79.3%±52.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Jericho and Essex Junction are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.3% VT: 10.1% |
19.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
9.5% VT: 10.1% |
0.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.1% VT: 73.2% |
49%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
59.3% VT: 73.2% |
92.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
1945Lowest 31 yrs older than VT |
1983 7 yrs newer than VT |
1983 7 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 16% below VT |
23 min 4% below VT |
19 minLowest 18% below VT |
26 minHighest 10% above VT |
| Work from home | 22.3%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.1%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±4 VT: 16.9% |
21.8%±6.4 VT: 16.9% |
| Williston and Jericho 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 | #46 of 70 in VT | #14 of 70 in VT | #6 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Maple Run Unified Union School District #57 | Essex Westford Educational Community Unified Union SD #51 | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 |
| High school in town | None in town | Bellows Free Academy (St. Albans) | Essex High School | Mt. Mansfield Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.4Lowest |
11.7 |
13.0Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.