Compare towns
Williston vs Stowe 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 the most renters (24.9% rent).
Stowe has the most expensive homes ($648k median).
Essex has the youngest population (median age 42.4).
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 | Stowe | Essex |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,144 |
5,285Lowest |
11,516Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.2% VT: +2.8% |
+21.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+12.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.4±4.5 5% above VT |
46.3±7.6Highest 7% above VT |
42.4±1.9Lowest about the VT average |
| Stowe and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.5%±5.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
22.5%±4.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
22.4%±3.3 VT: 17.9% |
| Stowe 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% |
25.8%±6.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.9%±3.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Stowe 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%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
66.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
57.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.7Highest VT: 7% |
1.6%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
2.8%±1.2 VT: 7% |
| Williston and Essex 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 |
$93,618±$33kLowest 15% above 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±$40k 50% above VT |
$647,800±$157kHighest 105% above VT |
$447,300±$14kLowest 41% above VT |
| Stowe 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 |
$1,458±$242Lowest 18% 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 | $5,592Lowest 11% above VT |
$7,161Highest 42% above VT |
$6,602 31% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±17.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
24.5%±15.9Lowest 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% |
9.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
78.6%Highest VT: 73.2% |
75.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
1982Lowest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1990 14 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 16% below VT |
19 minLowest 18% below VT |
22 minHighest 6% below VT |
| Work from home | 22.3%±7.6 VT: 16.9% |
24.4%±8.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
21.5%±5.8Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Stowe and Williston 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 | Stowe Town School District | Essex Westford Educational Community Unified Union SD #51 |
| High school in town | None in town | Stowe High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.3 |
— |
| 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.