What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Stowe has the most expensive homes ($648k 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	Stowe
People
Population	10,803Highest	5,285Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+14.2%Lowest VT: +2.8%	+21.1%Highest VT: +2.8%
Median age	39.3±3.1Lowest 9% below VT	46.3±7.6Highest 7% above VT
	Stowe 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%±3.2Lowest VT: 17.9%	22.5%±4.6Highest VT: 17.9%
	Stowe 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%	25.8%±6.2Highest VT: 21.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	52.4%Lowest VT: 43.8%	66.7%Highest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.7%±2.2Highest VT: 7%	1.6%±1.6Lowest VT: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$89,257±$16kLowest 10% above VT	$93,618±$33kHighest 15% above VT
	Stowe 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	$647,800±$157kHighest 105% above VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,544±$135Highest 25% above VT	$1,458±$242Lowest 18% above VT
	Essex Junction and Stowe 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	$7,161Highest 42% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	61.3%±14.5Highest VT: 48.4%	24.5%±15.9Lowest VT: 48.4%
Below poverty line	9.5%Lowest VT: 10.1%	9.9%Highest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	59.3%Lowest VT: 73.2%	78.6%Highest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT	1982Lowest 6 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	19 min 18% below VT	19 min 18% below VT
Work from home	16.9%±4Lowest VT: 16.9%	24.4%±8.9Highest VT: 16.9%
	Stowe 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	Stowe Town School District
High school in town	Essex High School	Stowe High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.7Highest	11.3Lowest
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.