What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Hanover has the most expensive homes ($843k median).

Hanover is a college town. 49.8% 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	Hanover
People
Population	10,803Highest	8,479Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+14.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+5.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	39.3±3.1Highest about the U.S. average	21.8±0.3Lowest 44% below U.S.
Kids under 18	19.6%±3.2Highest U.S.: 22%	9.8%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	14.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	17.6%±3.2Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Hanover 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%	89.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.7%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	49.8%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$89,257±$16kLowest 11% above U.S.	$153,281±$26kHighest 90% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$407,500±$20kLowest 22% above U.S.	$842,600±$97kHighest 153% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,544±$135Lowest 9% above U.S.	$2,254±$249Highest 60% above U.S.
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%	72%±17.4Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Hanover 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%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	59.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	62.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S.	1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	19 minHighest 27% below U.S.	19 minLowest 28% below U.S.
Work from home	16.9%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	26.7%±6Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Hanover 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	#1 of 120 in NH
School district	Essex Westford Educational Community Unified Union SD #51	—
High school in town	Essex High School	—
Students per teacherat that high school	11.7	—
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.