What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Jay has the most homeowners (97%).

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	Jay
People
Population	10,803Highest	471Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+14.2%Highest VT: +2.8%	+5.8%Lowest VT: +2.8%
Median age	39.3±3.1Lowest 9% below VT	52.1±10.5Highest 21% above VT
	Jay 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%±3.2Highest VT: 17.9%	14.2%±7.3Lowest VT: 17.9%
	Essex Junction and Jay 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%	15.5%±6.3Highest VT: 21.4%
	Jay 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 VT: 43.8%	45.1%Lowest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.7%±2.2Highest VT: 7%	1.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$89,257±$16kHighest 10% above VT	$74,792±$25kLowest 8% below VT
	Essex Junction and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$407,500±$20kHighest 29% above VT	$234,200±$45kLowest 26% below VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,544±$135 25% above VT	—
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,797Highest 35% above VT	$3,588Lowest 29% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	61.3%±14.5Highest VT: 48.4%	40%±100Lowest VT: 48.4%
	Essex Junction and Jay 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%	8.7%Lowest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	59.3%Lowest VT: 73.2%	97%Highest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1983Lowest 7 yrs newer than VT	2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	19 minLowest 18% below VT	40 minHighest 69% above VT
Work from home	16.9%±4Lowest VT: 16.9%	27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9%
	Jay 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	—
School district	Essex Westford Educational Community Unified Union SD #51	Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District
High school in town	Essex High School	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	11.7	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.