What stands out worked out from the figures below

Essex has the most kids (22.4% under 18).

Killington has grown the fastest since 2010 (+73.5%).

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	Killington
People
Population	11,516Highest	785Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+12.8%Lowest VT: +2.8%	+73.5%Highest VT: +2.8%
Median age	42.4±1.9Lowest about the VT average	52.8±4.2Highest 23% above VT
Kids under 18	22.4%±3.3Highest VT: 17.9%	13.9%±5.8Lowest VT: 17.9%
	Essex and Killington 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%	21%±5.2Highest VT: 21.4%
	Killington 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%	57.2%Lowest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.8%±1.2Lowest VT: 7%	6.5%±5.8Highest VT: 7%
	Killington 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±$14kHighest 36% above VT	$81,250±$39kLowest about the VT average
	Essex and Killington 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	$488,400±$85kHighest 54% above VT
	Killington 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	$1,286±$483Lowest 4% above VT
	Essex and Killington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,602Lowest 31% above VT	$6,827Highest 35% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	45.9%±13.1Lowest VT: 48.4%	49%±25.8Highest VT: 48.4%
	Killington and Essex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5%Lowest VT: 10.1%	5.3%Highest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	75.9%Highest VT: 73.2%	74.5%Lowest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1990Highest 14 yrs newer than VT	1983Lowest 7 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	22 minHighest 6% below VT	16 minLowest 33% below VT
Work from home	21.5%±5.8Lowest VT: 16.9%	24.7%±10.2Highest VT: 16.9%
	Killington 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	Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.