Compare towns
Williston vs Windham vs Ripton vs Essex Junction
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 expensive homes ($476k median).
Windham has the most affordable homes ($354k median).
Ripton has the most homeowners (90.9%).
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 | Windham | Ripton | Essex Junction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,144 |
594 |
508Lowest |
10,803Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.2% VT: +2.8% |
— | +25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+14.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.4±4.5 5% above VT |
44.2±7.4 about the VT average |
47.7±14.2Highest 11% above VT |
39.3±3.1Lowest 9% below VT |
| Ripton 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% |
17.5%±7.9 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
19.6%±3.2 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% |
23.2%±8.1 VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
14.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Windham 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% |
48.1% VT: 43.8% |
48%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
52.4% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.7 VT: 7% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
6.7%±2.2 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $106,967±$12k 32% above VT |
$94,500±$12k 16% above VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$89,257±$16kLowest 10% above VT |
| Ripton 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±$40kHighest 50% above VT |
$353,900±$20kLowest 12% above VT |
$394,400±$61k 25% above VT |
$407,500±$20k 29% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
— | — | $1,544±$135Lowest 25% above VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,592 11% above VT |
$5,951 18% above VT |
$4,915Lowest about the VT average |
$6,797Highest 35% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±17.4 VT: 48.4% |
41.2%±94Lowest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
61.3%±14.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Essex Junction and Ripton 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% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
9.5% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.1% VT: 73.2% |
82.9% VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
59.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
1983 7 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 16% below VT |
27 minHighest 14% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
19 minLowest 18% below VT |
| Work from home | 22.3%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
20.5%±5.6 VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Williston and Windham 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 | — | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | 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 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.