Compare towns
Williston vs Wayne 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 expensive homes ($476k median).
Wayne has the oldest population (median age 55.6).
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 | Wayne | Essex Junction |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,144 |
1,101Lowest |
10,803Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+14.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.4±4.5 17% above U.S. |
55.6±5.3Highest 43% above U.S. |
39.3±3.1Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Kids under 18 | 20.5%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.4%±3.9Lowest 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% |
29.2%±3.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
52.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.5%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.7%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Essex Junction and Wayne 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. |
$93,194±$26k 15% above U.S. |
$89,257±$16kLowest 11% above U.S. |
| Williston and Wayne 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. |
$362,800±$29kLowest 9% above U.S. |
$407,500±$20k 22% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,832±$130Highest 30% above U.S. |
$983±$554Lowest 30% below U.S. |
$1,544±$135 9% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,592 79% above U.S. |
$3,289Lowest 5% above U.S. |
$6,797Highest 118% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±17.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
25%±52.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
61.3%±14.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
59.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980Lowest same as U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 25% below U.S. |
30 minHighest 15% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.3%±7.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
26.2%±11.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.9%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Wayne 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 | — | #14 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | RSU 38 | Essex Westford Educational Community Unified Union SD #51 |
| High school in town | None 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.