Compare towns
Williston vs White River Junction vs Essex Junction vs Hartford
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 people working from home (22.3%).
White River Junction has the most renters (56.1% 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 | White River Junction | Essex Junction | Hartford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,144 |
3,364Lowest |
10,803Highest |
10,736 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+10.8% VT: +2.8% |
+14.2% VT: +2.8% |
+7.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.4±4.5Highest 5% above VT |
33.7±3.2Lowest 22% below VT |
39.3±3.1 9% below VT |
43.2±3.9 about the VT average |
| Williston and Hartford 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% |
17.1%±5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
19.6%±3.2 VT: 17.9% |
18%±3 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%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
12.5%±3.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
14.9%±2.5 VT: 21.4% |
22.5%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Hartford 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 VT: 43.8% |
38.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
52.4% VT: 43.8% |
47.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.7 VT: 7% |
1.2%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
6.7%±2.2Highest VT: 7% |
4.9%±1.7 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±$12kHighest 32% above VT |
$77,168±$4kLowest 5% below VT |
$89,257±$16k 10% above VT |
$78,125±$7k 4% below VT |
| Williston and Essex Junction 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 |
$278,800±$78kLowest 12% below VT |
$407,500±$20k 29% above VT |
$304,500±$26k 4% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
$1,222±$216 about the VT average |
$1,544±$135 25% above VT |
$1,218±$118Lowest about the VT average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,592Lowest 11% above VT |
$5,651 12% above VT |
$6,797Highest 35% above VT |
$5,773 15% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±17.4 VT: 48.4% |
42.9%±17.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
61.3%±14.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±12.7 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% |
12.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
9.5% VT: 10.1% |
11.1% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
43.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
59.3% VT: 73.2% |
67.8% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
1963Lowest 13 yrs older than VT |
1983 7 yrs newer than VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minHighest 16% below VT |
15 minLowest 35% below VT |
19 min 18% below VT |
18 min 22% below VT |
| Work from home | 22.3%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
15.7%±5.8 VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±4 VT: 16.9% |
13.9%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| 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 | — | #14 of 70 in VT | #34 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | — | Essex Westford Educational Community Unified Union SD #51 | Hartford School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Essex High School | Hartford High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.7Highest |
9.6Lowest |
| 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.