What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hartford has the most affordable homes ($305k median).

Essex Junction has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).

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	Hartford	Essex Junction
People
Population	10,736Lowest	10,803Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+7.4%Lowest VT: +2.8%	+14.2%Highest VT: +2.8%
Median age	43.2±3.9Highest about the VT average	39.3±3.1Lowest 9% below VT
	Hartford and Essex Junction are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18%±3Lowest VT: 17.9%	19.6%±3.2Highest VT: 17.9%
	Essex Junction and Hartford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	22.5%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4%	14.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 21.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	47.6%Lowest VT: 43.8%	52.4%Highest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.9%±1.7Lowest VT: 7%	6.7%±2.2Highest VT: 7%
	Essex Junction and Hartford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$78,125±$7kLowest 4% below VT	$89,257±$16kHighest 10% above VT
	Essex Junction and Hartford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$304,500±$26kLowest 4% below VT	$407,500±$20kHighest 29% above VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,218±$118Lowest about the VT average	$1,544±$135Highest 25% above VT
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,773Lowest 15% above VT	$6,797Highest 35% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	44.6%±12.7Lowest VT: 48.4%	61.3%±14.5Highest VT: 48.4%
	Essex Junction and Hartford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	11.1%Highest VT: 10.1%	9.5%Lowest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	67.8%Highest VT: 73.2%	59.3%Lowest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1979Lowest 3 yrs newer than VT	1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	18 minLowest 22% below VT	19 minHighest 18% below VT
Work from home	13.9%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9%	16.9%±4Highest VT: 16.9%
	Essex Junction and Hartford 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	#34 of 70 in VT	#14 of 70 in VT
School district	Hartford School District	Essex Westford Educational Community Unified Union SD #51
High school in town	Hartford High School	Essex High School
Students per teacherat that high school	9.6Lowest	11.7Highest
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.