What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Keene has the most affordable homes ($253k median).

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	Keene
People
Population	10,803Lowest	22,939Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+14.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-1.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	39.3±3.1Highest about the U.S. average	37.6±2.3Lowest 3% below U.S.
	Essex Junction and Keene are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	19.6%±3.2Highest U.S.: 22%	14.1%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	14.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	19.5%±1.8Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	52.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	44.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.7%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	13.8%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$89,257±$16kHighest 11% above U.S.	$78,445±$8kLowest about the U.S. average
	Essex Junction and Keene are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$407,500±$20kHighest 22% above U.S.	$252,500±$12kLowest 24% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,544±$135Highest 9% above U.S.	$1,342±$68Lowest 5% below U.S.
	Essex Junction and Keene are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,797Lowest 118% above U.S.	$6,812Highest 118% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	61.3%±14.5Highest U.S.: 51.1%	44.5%±6.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Essex Junction and Keene are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	9.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	10.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	59.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	55.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S.	1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	19 minHighest 27% below U.S.	17 minLowest 35% below U.S.
Work from home	16.9%±4Highest U.S.: 15.1%	15.6%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Essex Junction and Keene 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	#81 of 120 in NH
School district	Essex Westford Educational Community Unified Union SD #51	Keene School District
High school in town	Essex High School	Keene High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.7Lowest	12.3Highest
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.