What stands out worked out from the figures below

Essex has the most kids (16.2% under 18).

Kent has the shortest commute (20 min average).

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	Essex	Kent
People
Population	6,794Highest	3,056Lowest
Median age	52.4±3.6Lowest 27% above CT	55.8±4.3Highest 36% above CT
	Kent and Essex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	16.2%±3.3Highest CT: 20.2%	12.2%±3.4Lowest CT: 20.2%
	Essex and Kent are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	26.4%±3.8Lowest CT: 18.5%	30.6%±6.5Highest CT: 18.5%
	Kent and Essex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	54.9%Lowest CT: 42.5%	55.5%Highest CT: 42.5%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	8.7%±3.7Highest CT: 7.1%	7.2%±3.2Lowest CT: 7.1%
	Essex and Kent are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$104,395±$7kHighest 9% above CT	$96,064±$16kLowest about the CT average
	Essex and Kent are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$552,000±$53kHighest 50% above CT	$470,900±$78kLowest 28% above CT
	Essex and Kent are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,623±$326Highest 9% above CT	$688±$205Lowest 54% below CT
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,678Highest 15% below CT	$4,520Lowest 32% below CT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	38.5%±9.7Highest CT: 52.6%	11.5%±11.1Lowest CT: 52.6%
Below poverty line	3.2%Lowest CT: 10%	9%Highest CT: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	78.1%Highest CT: 66.5%	70.9%Lowest CT: 66.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1971 4 yrs newer than CT	1971 4 yrs newer than CT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minHighest 3% above CT	20 minLowest 23% below CT
Work from home	19.4%±4.6Lowest CT: 16%	21.5%±6.4Highest CT: 16%
	Kent and Essex 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	#33 of 149 in CT	#20 of 149 in CT
School district	Essex School District	Kent School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

CT 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.