What stands out worked out from the figures below

Colchester has the most homeowners (74.1%).

Essex Junction has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Colchester	Essex Junction
People
Population	17,648Highest	10,803Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.7%Lowest VT: +2.8%	+14.2%Highest VT: +2.8%
Median age	39.3±1.4 9% below VT	39.3±3.1 9% below VT
Kids under 18	19.1%±2.5Lowest VT: 17.9%	19.6%±3.2Highest VT: 17.9%
	Essex Junction and Colchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	17.9%±2.1Highest VT: 21.4%	14.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 21.4%
	Colchester and Essex Junction are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	40.8%Lowest VT: 43.8%	52.4%Highest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	10.9%±1.3Highest VT: 7%	6.7%±2.2Lowest VT: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$97,891±$9kHighest 21% above VT	$89,257±$16kLowest 10% above VT
	Colchester and Essex Junction are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$394,400±$25kLowest 25% above VT	$407,500±$20kHighest 29% above VT
	Essex Junction and Colchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,474±$122Lowest 19% above VT	$1,544±$135Highest 25% above VT
	Essex Junction and Colchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,471Lowest 9% above VT	$6,797Highest 35% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	46.2%±10.6Lowest VT: 48.4%	61.3%±14.5Highest VT: 48.4%
	Essex Junction and Colchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7%Lowest VT: 10.1%	9.5%Highest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	74.1%Highest VT: 73.2%	59.3%Lowest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1981Lowest 5 yrs newer than VT	1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	20 minHighest 15% below VT	19 minLowest 18% below VT
Work from home	19%±3.9Highest VT: 16.9%	16.9%±4Lowest VT: 16.9%
	Colchester 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	#18 of 70 in VT	#14 of 70 in VT
School district	Colchester School District	Essex Westford Educational Community Unified Union SD #51
High school in town	Colchester High School	Essex High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.8Highest	11.7Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.