What stands out worked out from the figures below

Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).

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

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	Newfields	Essex
People
Population	2,023Lowest	11,516Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+12.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	44.1±1.8Highest 13% above U.S.	42.4±1.9Lowest 9% above U.S.
	Newfields and Essex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18.9%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 22%	22.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22%
	Essex and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	13.6%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	19.9%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	68.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	57.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	7.5%±7.2Highest U.S.: 6.4%	2.8%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Newfields and Essex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$197,885±$15kHighest 145% above U.S.	$110,199±$14kLowest 36% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$646,400±$34kHighest 94% above U.S.	$447,300±$14kLowest 34% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,875±$323Highest 33% above U.S.	$1,569±$138Lowest 11% above U.S.
	Newfields and Essex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S.	$6,602Lowest 112% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	43.3%±40.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	45.9%±13.1Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Essex and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	5%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	95.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	75.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S.	1990Lowest 10 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minHighest about the U.S. average	22 minLowest 17% below U.S.
Work from home	25.5%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%	21.5%±5.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Newfields 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	Newfields School District	Essex Westford Educational Community Unified Union SD #51
High school in town	None in town	None in town
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.