What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Sunapee has the oldest population (median age 56.7).

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	Sunapee
People
Population	10,803Highest	3,416Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+14.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-0.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	39.3±3.1Lowest about the U.S. average	56.7±1.4Highest 46% above U.S.
Kids under 18	19.6%±3.2Highest U.S.: 22%	9.9%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	14.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	33.3%±7.1Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	52.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	50.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.7%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4%	4.5%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Essex Junction and Sunapee 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 11% above U.S.	$101,393±$20kHighest 26% above U.S.
	Sunapee 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±$20kHighest 22% above U.S.	$393,000±$51kLowest 18% above U.S.
	Essex Junction and Sunapee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,544±$135Lowest 9% above U.S.	$1,713±$451Highest 21% above U.S.
	Sunapee and Essex Junction are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,797Highest 118% above U.S.	$4,400Lowest 41% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	61.3%±14.5Highest U.S.: 51.1%	34.6%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
Below poverty line	9.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	12.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	59.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	75.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S.	1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	19 minLowest 27% below U.S.	33 minHighest 24% above U.S.
Work from home	16.9%±4Highest U.S.: 15.1%	9.5%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Essex Junction and Sunapee 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	#14 of 120 in NH
School district	Essex Westford Educational Community Unified Union SD #51	Sunapee School District
High school in town	Essex High School	Sunapee Sr. High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.7Lowest	11.9Highest
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.