What stands out worked out from the figures below

South Burlington has the highest household income ($107k).

Essex Junction has the most affordable homes ($408k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	South Burlington	Essex Junction
People
Population	20,756Highest	10,803Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+13.3%Lowest VT: +2.8%	+14.2%Highest VT: +2.8%
Median age	38.2±1.8Lowest 11% below VT	39.3±3.1Highest 9% below VT
	Essex Junction and South Burlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	19%±2.3Lowest VT: 17.9%	19.6%±3.2Highest VT: 17.9%
	Essex Junction and South Burlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	17.8%±2.1Highest VT: 21.4%	14.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 21.4%
	South Burlington 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+	67.6%Highest VT: 43.8%	52.4%Lowest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.5%±2Lowest VT: 7%	6.7%±2.2Highest VT: 7%
	Essex Junction and South Burlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$106,667±$13kHighest 31% above VT	$89,257±$16kLowest 10% above VT
	South Burlington and Essex Junction are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$443,400±$19kHighest 40% above VT	$407,500±$20kLowest 29% above VT
	South Burlington and Essex Junction are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,787±$59Highest 45% above VT	$1,544±$135Lowest 25% above VT
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,674Lowest 32% above VT	$6,797Highest 35% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	42.9%±7.6Lowest VT: 48.4%	61.3%±14.5Highest VT: 48.4%
	Essex Junction and South Burlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.2%Lowest VT: 10.1%	9.5%Highest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	61.6%Highest VT: 73.2%	59.3%Lowest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1989Highest 13 yrs newer than VT	1983Lowest 7 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	18 minLowest 25% below VT	19 minHighest 18% below VT
Work from home	19.6%±3.3Highest VT: 16.9%	16.9%±4Lowest VT: 16.9%
	South Burlington 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	#12 of 70 in VT	#14 of 70 in VT
School district	South Burlington School District	Essex Westford Educational Community Unified Union SD #51
High school in town	South Burlington High School	Essex High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.0Lowest	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.