Compare towns
Williston vs Thompson 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%).
Thompson has the most affordable homes ($292k 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 | Thompson | Essex Junction |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,144 |
9,337Lowest |
10,803Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +14.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.4±4.5 17% above U.S. |
54.1±2.2Highest 39% above U.S. |
39.3±3.1Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Kids under 18 | 20.5%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest 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% |
24.4%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Thompson 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% |
21.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
52.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.3Lowest 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. |
$93,629±$18k 16% above U.S. |
$89,257±$16kLowest 11% above U.S. |
| Williston and Thompson 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. |
$291,900±$24kLowest 12% below U.S. |
$407,500±$20k 22% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,832±$130Highest 30% above U.S. |
$1,012±$344Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,544±$135 9% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,592 79% above U.S. |
$3,822Lowest 23% above U.S. |
$6,797Highest 118% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±17.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
54%±18.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
61.3%±14.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Essex Junction and Thompson 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% |
5.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
59.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 25% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.3%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±4.4Lowest 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 | #130 of 149 in CT | #14 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Thompson School District | Essex Westford Educational Community Unified Union SD #51 |
| High school in town | None in town | Tourtellotte Memorial High School | Essex High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 7.9Lowest |
11.7Highest |
| 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.