What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Shelburne has the most people working from home (31.4%).

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	Shelburne
People
Population	11,516Highest	7,969Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+12.8%Highest VT: +2.8%	+8%Lowest VT: +2.8%
Median age	42.4±1.9Lowest about the VT average	50.9±3.2Highest 18% above VT
Kids under 18	22.4%±3.3Highest VT: 17.9%	20.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9%
	Essex and Shelburne 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%	29.2%±4.2Highest VT: 21.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	57.6%Lowest VT: 43.8%	70.2%Highest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.8%±1.2Lowest VT: 7%	4.7%±2.9Highest VT: 7%
	Shelburne 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	$115,963±$16kHighest 43% above VT
	Shelburne 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	$588,100±$44kHighest 86% above VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,569±$138Highest 27% above VT	$1,442±$589Lowest 17% above VT
	Essex and Shelburne 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	$8,173Highest 62% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	45.9%±13.1Highest VT: 48.4%	43.7%±10.6Lowest VT: 48.4%
	Essex and Shelburne 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%	8.4%Highest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	75.9%Highest VT: 73.2%	69.9%Lowest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1990Highest 14 yrs newer than VT	1986Lowest 10 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	22 minHighest 6% below VT	20 minLowest 14% below VT
Work from home	21.5%±5.8Lowest VT: 16.9%	31.4%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9%
	Shelburne 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	#8 of 70 in VT
School district	Essex Westford Educational Community Unified Union SD #51	Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56
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.