What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Dover has the most renters (47.3% 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.

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

Measure	Essex Junction	Dover
People
Population	10,803Lowest	33,364Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+14.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+9.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	39.3±3.1Highest about the U.S. average	36.9±1.9Lowest 5% below U.S.
	Essex Junction and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	19.6%±3.2Highest U.S.: 22%	16.9%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Essex Junction and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	14.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	16.8%±1.8Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Dover 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 U.S.: 35.7%	52%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.7%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4%	6.2%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Essex Junction and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$89,257±$16kLowest 11% above U.S.	$94,829±$7kHighest 17% above U.S.
	Dover and Essex Junction are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$407,500±$20kLowest 22% above U.S.	$436,700±$20kHighest 31% above U.S.
	Dover and Essex Junction are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,544±$135Lowest 9% above U.S.	$1,607±$100Highest 14% above U.S.
	Dover and Essex Junction are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,797Lowest 118% above U.S.	$8,249Highest 164% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	61.3%±14.5Highest U.S.: 51.1%	48.6%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Essex Junction and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	9.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	8.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	59.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	52.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S.	1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	19 minLowest 27% below U.S.	23 minHighest 14% below U.S.
Work from home	16.9%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	18.6%±2.5Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Dover 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	#14 of 70 in VT	#64 of 120 in NH
School district	Essex Westford Educational Community Unified Union SD #51	Dover School District
High school in town	Essex High School	Dover Senior High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.7Lowest	12.7Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	None yet	None yet

U.S. 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.