What stands out worked out from the figures below

Stowe has the most expensive homes ($648k median).

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	Stowe	Essex Junction
People
Population	5,285Lowest	10,803Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+21.1%Highest VT: +2.8%	+14.2%Lowest VT: +2.8%
Median age	46.3±7.6Highest 7% above VT	39.3±3.1Lowest 9% below VT
	Stowe and Essex Junction are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	22.5%±4.6Highest VT: 17.9%	19.6%±3.2Lowest VT: 17.9%
	Stowe and Essex Junction are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	25.8%±6.2Highest VT: 21.4%	14.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 21.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	66.7%Highest VT: 43.8%	52.4%Lowest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.6%±1.6Lowest VT: 7%	6.7%±2.2Highest VT: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$93,618±$33kHighest 15% above VT	$89,257±$16kLowest 10% above VT
	Stowe and Essex Junction are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$647,800±$157kHighest 105% above VT	$407,500±$20kLowest 29% above VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,458±$242Lowest 18% above VT	$1,544±$135Highest 25% above VT
	Essex Junction and Stowe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,161Highest 42% above VT	$6,797Lowest 35% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	24.5%±15.9Lowest VT: 48.4%	61.3%±14.5Highest VT: 48.4%
Below poverty line	9.9%Highest VT: 10.1%	9.5%Lowest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	78.6%Highest VT: 73.2%	59.3%Lowest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1982Lowest 6 yrs newer than VT	1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	19 min 18% below VT	19 min 18% below VT
Work from home	24.4%±8.9Highest VT: 16.9%	16.9%±4Lowest VT: 16.9%
	Stowe 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	—	#14 of 70 in VT
School district	Stowe Town School District	Essex Westford Educational Community Unified Union SD #51
High school in town	Stowe High School	Essex High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.3Lowest	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.