What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($318k 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	Plainfield
People
Population	11,516Highest	1,314Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+12.8%Highest VT: +2.8%	-0.6%Lowest VT: +2.8%
Median age	42.4±1.9Lowest about the VT average	48.1±5.5Highest 12% above VT
	Plainfield 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%	16.3%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9%
	Essex and Plainfield 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%	21.1%±3.5Highest VT: 21.4%
	Plainfield 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%	48.2%Lowest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.8%±1.2Highest VT: 7%	2.1%±1.3Lowest VT: 7%
	Essex and Plainfield 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	$69,250±$31kLowest 15% below VT
	Essex and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$447,300±$14kHighest 41% above VT	$318,400±$34kLowest about the VT average
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,569±$138Highest 27% above VT	$1,153±$103Lowest 7% below VT
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,602Highest 31% above VT	$4,806Lowest 5% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	45.9%±13.1Lowest VT: 48.4%	73.2%±53.9Highest VT: 48.4%
	Plainfield 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%	11.6%Highest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	75.9%Lowest VT: 73.2%	80.9%Highest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1990Highest 14 yrs newer than VT	1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	22 minLowest 6% below VT	24 minHighest about the VT average
Work from home	21.5%±5.8Highest VT: 16.9%	16.4%±4.4Lowest VT: 16.9%
	Essex and Plainfield 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.