What stands out worked out from the figures below

Essex has the shortest commute (24 min average).

Denning has the most people working from home (17.6%).

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	Denning
People
Population	710Highest	587Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-7.5%Highest NY: +4.2%	-10.5%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	53.5±7.2Highest 34% above NY	50.2±17.5Lowest 26% above NY
	Essex and Denning are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	15.6%±4.6Highest NY: 20.5%	13.5%±5.1Lowest NY: 20.5%
	Essex and Denning are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	23.9%±3.3Highest NY: 17.9%	12.9%±4.9Lowest NY: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	41.3%Highest NY: 40.2%	38.7%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	0.3%±2Lowest NY: 7%	2.7%±2.5Highest NY: 7%
	Denning and Essex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$77,188±$11kLowest 10% below NY	$86,250±$27kHighest about the NY average
	Denning and Essex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$277,800±$50kLowest 34% below NY	$310,400±$71kHighest 27% below NY
	Denning and Essex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$775±$709 52% below NY	—
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,888Highest 41% below NY	$3,620Lowest 45% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	14.6%±42.2Lowest NY: 52.1%	39.1%±78.8Highest NY: 52.1%
	Denning and Essex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	19.3%Lowest NY: 14%	35.9%Highest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	81.7%Highest NY: 54.3%	76.9%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1938Lowest 21 yrs older than NY	1968Highest 9 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minLowest 26% below NY	36 minHighest 10% above NY
Work from home	14.9%±5.2Lowest NY: 14.9%	17.6%±0.7Highest NY: 14.9%
	Denning and Essex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	None yet	None yet

NY 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.