What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).

Durham is a college town. 55.1% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.

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	Durham
People
Population	10,803Lowest	15,080Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+14.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+5.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	39.3±3.1Highest about the U.S. average	20.8±0.3Lowest 47% below U.S.
Kids under 18	19.6%±3.2Highest U.S.: 22%	10.3%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	14.9%±2.5Highest U.S.: 17.2%	11.5%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Essex Junction and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	52.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	75.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.7%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	55.1%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$89,257±$16kLowest 11% above U.S.	$124,056±$21kHighest 54% above U.S.
	Durham 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.	$504,300±$41kHighest 52% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,544±$135Highest 9% above U.S.	$1,429±$143Lowest about the U.S. average
	Essex Junction and Durham 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.	$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	61.3%±14.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	66.4%±16Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Durham 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 U.S.: 12.5%	15.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	59.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	64.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S.	1981Lowest 1 yr newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	19 minLowest 27% below U.S.	19 minHighest 27% below U.S.
Work from home	16.9%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	19.4%±3.5Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Durham 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	#9 of 120 in NH
School district	Essex Westford Educational Community Unified Union SD #51	Oyster River Coop School District
High school in town	Essex High School	Oyster River High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.7Lowest	12.3Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	None yet	51 photos →

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.