Compare towns
White River Junction vs Essex vs Stowe
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
White River Junction has the most renters (56.1% rent).
Essex has the highest household income ($110k).
Stowe has grown the fastest since 2010 (+21.1%).
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 | White River Junction | Essex | Stowe |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,364Lowest |
11,516Highest |
5,285 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+12.8% VT: +2.8% |
+21.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 33.7±3.2Lowest 22% below VT |
42.4±1.9 about the VT average |
46.3±7.6Highest 7% above VT |
| Stowe and Essex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.1%±5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
22.4%±3.3 VT: 17.9% |
22.5%±4.6Highest 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+ | 12.5%±3.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
19.9%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
25.8%±6.2Highest 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+ | 38.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
57.6% VT: 43.8% |
66.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.2%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
2.8%±1.2Highest VT: 7% |
1.6%±1.6 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 | $77,168±$4kLowest 5% below VT |
$110,199±$14kHighest 36% above VT |
$93,618±$33k 15% 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 | $278,800±$78kLowest 12% below VT |
$447,300±$14k 41% above VT |
$647,800±$157kHighest 105% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,222±$216Lowest about the VT average |
$1,569±$138Highest 27% above VT |
$1,458±$242 18% 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 | $5,651Lowest 12% above VT |
$6,602 31% above VT |
$7,161Highest 42% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.9%±17.3 VT: 48.4% |
45.9%±13.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
24.5%±15.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Essex and White River Junction are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 12.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
9.9% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 43.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
75.9% VT: 73.2% |
78.6%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963Lowest 13 yrs older than VT |
1990Highest 14 yrs newer than VT |
1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 15 minLowest 35% below VT |
22 minHighest 6% below VT |
19 min 18% below VT |
| Work from home | 15.7%±5.8Lowest VT: 16.9% |
21.5%±5.8 VT: 16.9% |
24.4%±8.9Highest 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 | — | Essex Westford Educational Community Unified Union SD #51 | Stowe Town School District |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Stowe High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.3 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.