Compare towns
Unity vs Essex vs Washington
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Unity has the most affordable homes ($276k median).
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.
| Measure | Unity | Essex | Washington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,375 |
11,516Highest |
1,208Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -9.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 58±4.5Highest 49% above U.S. |
42.4±1.9Lowest 9% above U.S. |
55±4.7 41% above U.S. |
| Unity and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 12%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.8%±4.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 34.9%±7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.9%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
29%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Unity and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
57.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
32% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Washington and Essex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $87,500±$16kLowest 8% above U.S. |
$110,199±$14kHighest 36% above U.S. |
$89,453±$12k 11% above U.S. |
| Essex and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $276,100±$29kLowest 17% below U.S. |
$447,300±$14kHighest 34% above U.S. |
$358,600±$32k 8% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,625±$804Highest 15% above U.S. |
$1,569±$138 11% above U.S. |
$1,106±$160Lowest 22% below U.S. |
| Unity and Essex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,394 73% above U.S. |
$6,602Highest 112% above U.S. |
$4,321Lowest 39% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
45.9%±13.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±88.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Essex and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Lowest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1990Highest 10 yrs newer than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 32% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
36 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.5%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.5%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.9%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Essex and Washington 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 | Unity School District | Essex Westford Educational Community Unified Union SD #51 | Washington School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 4 photos → | 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.