What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Hinesburg has the most homeowners (83.6%).

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	Hinesburg
People
Population	10,803Highest	4,718Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+14.2%Highest VT: +2.8%	+6.9%Lowest VT: +2.8%
Median age	39.3±3.1Lowest 9% below VT	50.1±5.2Highest 16% above VT
Kids under 18	19.6%±3.2Highest VT: 17.9%	18%±5.3Lowest VT: 17.9%
	Essex Junction and Hinesburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	14.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 21.4%	25.8%±7.3Highest VT: 21.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	52.4%Lowest VT: 43.8%	64.3%Highest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.7%±2.2Highest VT: 7%	1.3%±1Lowest VT: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$89,257±$16kLowest 10% above VT	$112,539±$18kHighest 39% above VT
	Hinesburg 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 29% above VT	$463,400±$51kHighest 46% above VT
	Hinesburg 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 25% above VT	$1,651±$155Highest 34% above VT
	Hinesburg 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 35% above VT	$7,667Highest 52% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	61.3%±14.5Highest VT: 48.4%	52.2%±29.4Lowest VT: 48.4%
	Essex Junction and Hinesburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	9.5%Highest VT: 10.1%	8.5%Lowest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	59.3%Lowest VT: 73.2%	83.6%Highest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1983 7 yrs newer than VT	1983 7 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	19 minLowest 18% below VT	20 minHighest 17% below VT
Work from home	16.9%±4Lowest VT: 16.9%	19.6%±6.8Highest VT: 16.9%
	Hinesburg 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	#4 of 70 in VT
School district	Essex Westford Educational Community Unified Union SD #51	Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56
High school in town	Essex High School	Champlain Valley Union High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.7Lowest	14.5Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	None yet	None yet

VT 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.