What stands out worked out from the figures below

Willsboro has grown the fastest since 2010 (-5.9%).

Essex has the most people working from home (14.9%).

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	Willsboro	Essex
People
Population	1,903Highest	710Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-5.9%Highest NY: +4.2%	-7.5%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	55±4.5Highest 38% above NY	53.5±7.2Lowest 34% above NY
	Willsboro and Essex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	15.4%±4.2Lowest NY: 20.5%	15.6%±4.6Highest NY: 20.5%
	Essex and Willsboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	28.1%±4.3Highest NY: 17.9%	23.9%±3.3Lowest NY: 17.9%
	Willsboro and Essex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	32%Lowest NY: 40.2%	41.3%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.2%±1.3Highest NY: 7%	0.3%±2Lowest NY: 7%
	Willsboro and Essex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$69,766±$26kLowest 19% below NY	$77,188±$11kHighest 10% below NY
	Essex and Willsboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$237,900±$48kLowest 44% below NY	$277,800±$50kHighest 34% below NY
	Essex and Willsboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$720±$46Lowest 56% below NY	$775±$709Highest 52% below NY
	Essex and Willsboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,914Lowest 56% below NY	$3,888Highest 41% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	61.1%±35.3Highest NY: 52.1%	14.6%±42.2Lowest NY: 52.1%
	Willsboro and Essex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	12.1%Lowest NY: 14%	19.3%Highest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	84.5%Highest NY: 54.3%	81.7%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1957Highest 2 yrs older than NY	1938Lowest 21 yrs older than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minLowest 27% below NY	24 minHighest 26% below NY
Work from home	12%±9.6Lowest NY: 14.9%	14.9%±5.2Highest NY: 14.9%
	Essex and Willsboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	None yet	None yet

NY 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.