What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Newfane has the most people working from home (30.8%).

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	Newfane
People
Population	11,516Highest	1,456Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+12.8%Highest VT: +2.8%	-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8%
Median age	42.4±1.9Lowest about the VT average	54.4±3.9Highest 26% above VT
Kids under 18	22.4%±3.3Highest VT: 17.9%	11.1%±3.7Lowest VT: 17.9%
Age 65+	19.9%±3.3Lowest VT: 21.4%	29.2%±3.9Highest VT: 21.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	57.6%Highest VT: 43.8%	46.5%Lowest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.8%±1.2Highest VT: 7%	2.4%±2.1Lowest VT: 7%
	Essex and Newfane 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	$66,719±$21kLowest 18% below VT
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$447,300±$14kHighest 41% above VT	$284,200±$49kLowest 10% below VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,569±$138Highest 27% above VT	$1,266±$238Lowest about the VT average
	Essex and Newfane are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,602Highest 31% above VT	$5,174Lowest about the VT average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	45.9%±13.1Lowest VT: 48.4%	51.9%±79.7Highest VT: 48.4%
	Newfane 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%	10.9%Highest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	75.9%Lowest VT: 73.2%	87.2%Highest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1990Highest 14 yrs newer than VT	1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	22 minLowest 6% below VT	27 minHighest 13% above VT
Work from home	21.5%±5.8Lowest VT: 16.9%	30.8%±12.5Highest VT: 16.9%
	Newfane 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	West River Valley Union Education District #72A
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.