What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Castleton has the most affordable homes ($225k median).

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 Junction	Castleton
People
Population	10,803Highest	4,453Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+14.2%Highest VT: +2.8%	-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8%
Median age	39.3±3.1Highest 9% below VT	38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT
	Essex Junction and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	19.6%±3.2Highest VT: 17.9%	18.8%±6.4Lowest VT: 17.9%
	Essex Junction and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	14.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 21.4%	20.7%±4.6Highest VT: 21.4%
	Castleton 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+	52.4%Highest VT: 43.8%	37.9%Lowest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.7%±2.2Lowest VT: 7%	19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$89,257±$16kHighest 10% above VT	$73,854±$23kLowest 9% below VT
	Essex Junction and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$407,500±$20kHighest 29% above VT	$224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,544±$135Highest 25% above VT	$1,137±$195Lowest 8% below VT
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,797Highest 35% above VT	$3,167Lowest 37% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	61.3%±14.5Lowest VT: 48.4%	67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4%
	Castleton and Essex Junction are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	9.5%Lowest VT: 10.1%	12.5%Highest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	59.3%Lowest VT: 73.2%	79%Highest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT	1974Lowest 2 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	19 minLowest 18% below VT	19 minHighest 17% below VT
Work from home	16.9%±4Highest VT: 16.9%	6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#14 of 70 in VT	#39 of 70 in VT
School district	Essex Westford Educational Community Unified Union SD #51	Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62
High school in town	Essex High School	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	11.7	—
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.