Compare towns
Essex vs Windham 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 the most kids (22.4% under 18).
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 | Windham | Worcester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,516Highest |
594Lowest |
831 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— | -3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42.4±1.9Lowest about the VT average |
44.2±7.4 about the VT average |
47±2.7Highest 9% above VT |
| Worcester and Windham 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% |
17.5%±7.9 VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Essex and Windham 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% |
23.2%±8.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±2.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Windham 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% |
48.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
53% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.2 VT: 7% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
6.9%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
| Worcester 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±$14kHighest 36% above VT |
$94,500±$12k 16% above VT |
$73,833±$18kLowest 9% below VT |
| Essex and Windham 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 |
$353,900±$20k 12% above VT |
$271,100±$27kLowest 14% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,569±$138Highest 27% above VT |
— | $1,023±$136Lowest 17% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,602Highest 31% above VT |
$5,951 18% above VT |
$4,421Lowest 12% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.9%±13.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
41.2%±94 VT: 48.4% |
25.5%±37Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Essex and Windham 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% |
9.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.9% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
82.9% VT: 73.2% |
85.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1990Highest 14 yrs newer than VT |
1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
1976Lowest same as VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 6% below VT |
27 min 14% above VT |
29 minHighest 22% above VT |
| Work from home | 21.5%±5.8 VT: 16.9% |
20.5%±5.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.6%±4.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Worcester 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 | — | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school 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.