Compare towns
Essex Junction vs Durham vs Windham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Essex Junction has the most affordable homes ($408k median).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Windham has the highest household income ($190k).
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.
| Measure | Essex Junction | Durham | Windham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,803Lowest |
15,080 |
16,038Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.3±3.1 about the U.S. average |
20.8±0.3Lowest 47% below U.S. |
41.1±2.9Highest 6% above U.S. |
| Windham and Essex Junction are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
27.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 14.9%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±2.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Windham 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
75.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
62.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.7%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
55.1%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $89,257±$16kLowest 11% above U.S. |
$124,056±$21k 54% above U.S. |
$189,583±$19kHighest 135% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $407,500±$20kLowest 22% above U.S. |
$504,300±$41k 52% above U.S. |
$723,300±$50kHighest 117% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,544±$135 9% above U.S. |
$1,429±$143Lowest about the U.S. average |
$3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,797Lowest 118% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61.3%±14.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
66.4%±16Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.2%±50.9Lowest 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
15.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
64.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981Lowest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
19 min 27% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.9%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.4%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Windham and Durham 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 | #13 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Essex Westford Educational Community Unified Union SD #51 | Oyster River Coop School District | Windham School District |
| High school in town | Essex High School | Oyster River High School | Windham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.7Lowest |
12.3 |
12.8Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 51 photos → | 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.