What stands out worked out from the figures below

Lebanon has the most people working from home (22.8%).

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	Lebanon	Essex Junction
People
Population	14,999Highest	10,803Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+8.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+14.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	38.9±3.1Lowest about the U.S. average	39.3±3.1Highest about the U.S. average
	Essex Junction and Lebanon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	14.6%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22%	19.6%±3.2Highest U.S.: 22%
	Essex Junction and Lebanon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	21.4%±2.6Highest U.S.: 17.2%	14.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	57.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	52.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.9%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4%	6.7%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Lebanon and Essex Junction are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$98,147±$10kHighest 22% above U.S.	$89,257±$16kLowest 11% above U.S.
	Lebanon and Essex Junction are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$385,400±$29kLowest 16% above U.S.	$407,500±$20kHighest 22% above U.S.
	Essex Junction and Lebanon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,744±$132Highest 23% above U.S.	$1,544±$135Lowest 9% above U.S.
	Lebanon and Essex Junction are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$8,149Highest 161% above U.S.	$6,797Lowest 118% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	41.9%±7.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	61.3%±14.5Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Essex Junction and Lebanon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	9.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	51.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	59.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1980Lowest same as U.S.	1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	14 minLowest 47% below U.S.	19 minHighest 27% below U.S.
Work from home	22.8%±4.3Highest U.S.: 15.1%	16.9%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Lebanon and Essex Junction 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	#29 of 120 in NH	#14 of 70 in VT
School district	Lebanon School District	Essex Westford Educational Community Unified Union SD #51
High school in town	Lebanon High School	Essex High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.7	11.7
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	None yet	None yet

U.S. 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.