What stands out worked out from the figures below

Essex Junction has the shortest commute (19 min average).

Gorham has the most homeowners (81.5%).

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	Gorham
People
Population	10,803Lowest	18,300Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+14.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+11.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	39.3±3.1Lowest about the U.S. average	39.4±2.9Highest about the U.S. average
	Gorham 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%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22%	20.9%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22%
	Gorham and Essex Junction 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%	17.5%±2.5Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Gorham 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%	44.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.7%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	13.1%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$89,257±$16kLowest 11% above U.S.	$112,312±$6kHighest 39% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$407,500±$20kLowest 22% above U.S.	$460,900±$26kHighest 39% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,544±$135Lowest 9% above U.S.	$1,680±$355Highest 19% above U.S.
	Gorham and Essex Junction are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,797Highest 118% above U.S.	$4,825Lowest 55% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	61.3%±14.5Highest U.S.: 51.1%	37.9%±8.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
Below poverty line	9.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	59.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	81.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1983Lowest 3 yrs newer than U.S.	1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	19 minLowest 27% below U.S.	27 minHighest about the U.S. average
Work from home	16.9%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	19%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Gorham 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	#24 of 133 in ME
School district	Essex Westford Educational Community Unified Union SD #51	Gorham Public Schools
High school in town	Essex High School	Gorham High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.7Lowest	12.9Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.