What stands out worked out from the figures below

Essex Junction has the most affordable homes ($408k median).

South Burlington has the highest household income ($107k).

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	South Burlington
People
Population	10,803Lowest	20,756Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+14.2%Highest VT: +2.8%	+13.3%Lowest VT: +2.8%
Median age	39.3±3.1Highest 9% below VT	38.2±1.8Lowest 11% below VT
	Essex Junction and South Burlington 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%	19%±2.3Lowest VT: 17.9%
	Essex Junction and South Burlington 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%	17.8%±2.1Highest VT: 21.4%
	South Burlington 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 VT: 43.8%	67.6%Highest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.7%±2.2Highest VT: 7%	6.5%±2Lowest VT: 7%
	Essex Junction and South Burlington 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	$106,667±$13kHighest 31% above VT
	South Burlington 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	$443,400±$19kHighest 40% above VT
	South Burlington 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	$1,787±$59Highest 45% above VT
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,797Highest 35% above VT	$6,674Lowest 32% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	61.3%±14.5Highest VT: 48.4%	42.9%±7.6Lowest VT: 48.4%
	Essex Junction and South Burlington 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%	7.2%Lowest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	59.3%Lowest VT: 73.2%	61.6%Highest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1983Lowest 7 yrs newer than VT	1989Highest 13 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	19 minHighest 18% below VT	18 minLowest 25% below VT
Work from home	16.9%±4Lowest VT: 16.9%	19.6%±3.3Highest VT: 16.9%
	South Burlington 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	#12 of 70 in VT
School district	Essex Westford Educational Community Unified Union SD #51	South Burlington School District
High school in town	Essex High School	South Burlington High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.7Highest	11.0Lowest
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.