What stands out worked out from the figures below

Putney has the most affordable homes ($300k 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	Putney	Essex Junction
People
Population	2,622Lowest	10,803Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-3.1%Lowest VT: +2.8%	+14.2%Highest VT: +2.8%
Median age	37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT	39.3±3.1Highest 9% below VT
	Essex Junction and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	15.4%±4.1Lowest VT: 17.9%	19.6%±3.2Highest VT: 17.9%
	Essex Junction and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	18.1%±3.8Highest VT: 21.4%	14.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 21.4%
	Putney and Essex Junction are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	48.6%Lowest VT: 43.8%	52.4%Highest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7%	6.7%±2.2Lowest VT: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$79,706±$18kLowest about the VT average	$89,257±$16kHighest 10% above VT
	Essex Junction and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$300,000±$44kLowest 5% below VT	$407,500±$20kHighest 29% above VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$508±$482Lowest 59% below VT	$1,544±$135Highest 25% above VT
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,313Lowest 5% above VT	$6,797Highest 35% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	54.2%±19.4Lowest VT: 48.4%	61.3%±14.5Highest VT: 48.4%
	Essex Junction and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	16%Highest VT: 10.1%	9.5%Lowest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	72.8%Highest VT: 73.2%	59.3%Lowest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1977Lowest 1 yr newer than VT	1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	18 minLowest 24% below VT	19 minHighest 18% below VT
Work from home	16.9%±6.5 VT: 16.9%	16.9%±4 VT: 16.9%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#32 of 70 in VT	#14 of 70 in VT
School district	Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96	Essex Westford Educational Community Unified Union SD #51
High school in town	None in town	Essex High School
Students per teacherat that high school	—	11.7
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.