Compare towns
Essex vs Shelburne vs Worcester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
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%).
Worcester has the most affordable homes ($271k 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.
| Measure | Essex | Shelburne | Worcester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,516Highest |
7,969 |
831Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+8% VT: +2.8% |
-3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42.4±1.9Lowest about the VT average |
50.9±3.2Highest 18% above VT |
47±2.7 9% above VT |
| Shelburne and Worcester 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% |
20.2%±3.9 VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±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%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
29.2%±4.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±2.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 57.6% VT: 43.8% |
70.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
53%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.2Lowest VT: 7% |
4.7%±2.9 VT: 7% |
6.9%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
| Worcester and Shelburne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $110,199±$14k 36% above VT |
$115,963±$16kHighest 43% above VT |
$73,833±$18kLowest 9% below 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±$14k 41% above VT |
$588,100±$44kHighest 86% above VT |
$271,100±$27kLowest 14% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,569±$138Highest 27% above VT |
$1,442±$589 17% above VT |
$1,023±$136Lowest 17% below VT |
| Essex and Shelburne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,602 31% above VT |
$8,173Highest 62% above VT |
$4,421Lowest 12% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.9%±13.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
43.7%±10.6 VT: 48.4% |
25.5%±37Lowest 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% |
5.9% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.9% VT: 73.2% |
69.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
85.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1990Highest 14 yrs newer than VT |
1986 10 yrs newer than VT |
1976Lowest same as VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 6% below VT |
20 minLowest 14% below VT |
29 minHighest 22% above VT |
| Work from home | 21.5%±5.8Lowest VT: 16.9% |
31.4%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
23.6%±4.8 VT: 16.9% |
| Shelburne and Worcester 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 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.