What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Shelburne has the most people working from home (31.4%).

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	Shelburne
People
Population	10,803Highest	7,969Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+14.2%Highest VT: +2.8%	+8%Lowest VT: +2.8%
Median age	39.3±3.1Lowest 9% below VT	50.9±3.2Highest 18% above VT
Kids under 18	19.6%±3.2Lowest VT: 17.9%	20.2%±3.9Highest VT: 17.9%
	Shelburne 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 VT: 21.4%	29.2%±4.2Highest VT: 21.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	52.4%Lowest VT: 43.8%	70.2%Highest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.7%±2.2Highest VT: 7%	4.7%±2.9Lowest VT: 7%
	Essex Junction and Shelburne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$89,257±$16kLowest 10% above VT	$115,963±$16kHighest 43% above VT
	Shelburne 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	$588,100±$44kHighest 86% above VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,544±$135Highest 25% above VT	$1,442±$589Lowest 17% above VT
	Essex Junction and Shelburne 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	$8,173Highest 62% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	61.3%±14.5Highest VT: 48.4%	43.7%±10.6Lowest VT: 48.4%
	Essex Junction and Shelburne 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%	8.4%Lowest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	59.3%Lowest VT: 73.2%	69.9%Highest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1983Lowest 7 yrs newer than VT	1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	19 minLowest 18% below VT	20 minHighest 14% below VT
Work from home	16.9%±4Lowest VT: 16.9%	31.4%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#14 of 70 in VT	#8 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	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.