What stands out worked out from the figures below

Essex has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.8%).

Cornwall has the most homeowners (94.3%).

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	Cornwall
People
Population	11,516Highest	1,208Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+12.8%Highest VT: +2.8%	+1.9%Lowest VT: +2.8%
Median age	42.4±1.9Lowest about the VT average	50.4±4.6Highest 17% above VT
Kids under 18	22.4%±3.3Highest VT: 17.9%	18.7%±3Lowest VT: 17.9%
	Essex and Cornwall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19.9%±3.3Lowest VT: 21.4%	25.7%±6.1Highest VT: 21.4%
	Cornwall and Essex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	57.6%Highest VT: 43.8%	54.7%Lowest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.8%±1.2Lowest VT: 7%	3.7%±3.1Highest VT: 7%
	Cornwall and Essex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$110,199±$14kLowest 36% above VT	$114,583±$32kHighest 41% above VT
	Cornwall and Essex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$447,300±$14kLowest 41% above VT	$458,000±$49kHighest 45% above VT
	Cornwall and Essex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,569±$138Highest 27% above VT	$1,125±$206Lowest 9% below VT
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,602Lowest 31% above VT	$6,726Highest 33% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	45.9%±13.1Lowest VT: 48.4%	61.9%±65.5Highest VT: 48.4%
	Cornwall and Essex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5%Highest VT: 10.1%	0.8%Lowest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	75.9%Lowest VT: 73.2%	94.3%Highest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1990Highest 14 yrs newer than VT	1976Lowest same as VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	22 minLowest 6% below VT	24 minHighest about the VT average
Work from home	21.5%±5.8Lowest VT: 16.9%	24.4%±6.6Highest VT: 16.9%
	Cornwall and Essex 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	#13 of 70 in VT	—
School district	Essex Westford Educational Community Unified Union SD #51	Addison Central Unified Union School District #55
High school in town	None in town	None in town
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.