What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

North Bennington has the most affordable homes ($313k median).

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	North Bennington
People
Population	11,516Highest	1,336Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+12.8%Highest VT: +2.8%	+4.4%Lowest VT: +2.8%
Median age	42.4±1.9Lowest about the VT average	43.9±10Highest about the VT average
	North Bennington and Essex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	22.4%±3.3Highest VT: 17.9%	10.4%±2.9Lowest VT: 17.9%
Age 65+	19.9%±3.3Lowest VT: 21.4%	31.9%±8.1Highest VT: 21.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	57.6%Highest VT: 43.8%	41.4%Lowest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.8%±1.2Lowest VT: 7%	21.6%±6.5Highest VT: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$110,199±$14kHighest 36% above VT	$68,571±$10kLowest 16% below VT
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$447,300±$14kHighest 41% above VT	$313,000±$40kLowest about the VT average
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,569±$138Highest 27% above VT	$1,447±$278Lowest 17% above VT
	Essex and North Bennington 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	$5,590Lowest 11% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	45.9%±13.1Lowest VT: 48.4%	53.7%±26.9Highest VT: 48.4%
	North Bennington 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%	7.4%Highest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	75.9%Highest VT: 73.2%	61.4%Lowest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1990Highest 14 yrs newer than VT	1957Lowest 19 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	22 minHighest 6% below VT	18 minLowest 24% below VT
Work from home	21.5%±5.8Highest VT: 16.9%	17.3%±7.3Lowest VT: 16.9%
	Essex and North Bennington 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	—
High school 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.