What stands out worked out from the figures below

Stowe has grown the fastest since 2010 (+21.1%).

Essex has the most affordable homes ($447k 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
People
Population	5,285Lowest	11,516Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+21.1%Highest VT: +2.8%	+12.8%Lowest VT: +2.8%
Median age	46.3±7.6Highest 7% above VT	42.4±1.9Lowest about the VT average
	Stowe and Essex 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%	22.4%±3.3Lowest VT: 17.9%
	Stowe and Essex 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%	19.9%±3.3Lowest VT: 21.4%
	Stowe and Essex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	66.7%Highest VT: 43.8%	57.6%Lowest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.6%±1.6Lowest VT: 7%	2.8%±1.2Highest VT: 7%
	Essex and Stowe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$93,618±$33kLowest 15% above VT	$110,199±$14kHighest 36% above VT
	Essex and Stowe 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	$447,300±$14kLowest 41% above VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,458±$242Lowest 18% above VT	$1,569±$138Highest 27% above VT
	Essex 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	$6,602Lowest 31% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	24.5%±15.9Lowest VT: 48.4%	45.9%±13.1Highest VT: 48.4%
	Essex and Stowe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	9.9%Highest VT: 10.1%	5%Lowest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	78.6%Highest VT: 73.2%	75.9%Lowest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1982Lowest 6 yrs newer than VT	1990Highest 14 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	19 minLowest 18% below VT	22 minHighest 6% below VT
Work from home	24.4%±8.9Highest VT: 16.9%	21.5%±5.8Lowest VT: 16.9%
	Stowe 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	Stowe Town School District	Essex Westford Educational Community Unified Union SD #51
High school in town	Stowe High School	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	11.3	—
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.