What stands out worked out from the figures below

Warren has the most people working from home (36.2%).

Essex has the most kids (22.4% under 18).

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	Warren	Essex
People
Population	1,585Lowest	11,516Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+16%Highest VT: +2.8%	+12.8%Lowest VT: +2.8%
Median age	53.1±4.2Highest 23% above VT	42.4±1.9Lowest about the VT average
Kids under 18	9.3%±3.1Lowest VT: 17.9%	22.4%±3.3Highest VT: 17.9%
Age 65+	30.1%±4.9Highest VT: 21.4%	19.9%±3.3Lowest VT: 21.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	60%Highest VT: 43.8%	57.6%Lowest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.6%±4Highest VT: 7%	2.8%±1.2Lowest VT: 7%
	Warren and Essex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$86,905±$16kLowest 7% above VT	$110,199±$14kHighest 36% above VT
	Essex and Warren are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$569,300±$123kHighest 80% above VT	$447,300±$14kLowest 41% above VT
	Warren and Essex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,750±$394Highest 42% above VT	$1,569±$138Lowest 27% above VT
	Warren and Essex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,284Highest 45% above VT	$6,602Lowest 31% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	32.3%±26.6Lowest VT: 48.4%	45.9%±13.1Highest VT: 48.4%
	Essex and Warren are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	15.7%Highest VT: 10.1%	5%Lowest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	86.7%Highest VT: 73.2%	75.9%Lowest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1977Lowest 1 yr newer than VT	1990Highest 14 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	19 minLowest 21% below VT	22 minHighest 6% below VT
Work from home	36.2%±5Highest VT: 16.9%	21.5%±5.8Lowest VT: 16.9%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	—	#13 of 70 in VT
School district	Harwood Unified Union School District #60	Essex Westford Educational Community Unified Union SD #51
High school in town	None in town	None in town
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.