Compare towns
Worcester vs Essex vs Elmore
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Worcester has the most affordable homes ($271k median).
Essex has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.8%).
Elmore has the most homeowners (92.8%).
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 | Worcester | Essex | Elmore |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 831Lowest |
11,516Highest |
964 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+12.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+3.6% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47±2.7Highest 9% above VT |
42.4±1.9Lowest about the VT average |
45±3.5 4% above VT |
| Worcester and Elmore are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 12.8%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
22.4%±3.3 VT: 17.9% |
23.4%±9.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Elmore and Essex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.5%±2.5 VT: 21.4% |
19.9%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
14.6%±2.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Essex and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 53% VT: 43.8% |
57.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
47.8%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.9%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
2.8%±1.2 VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Worcester and Essex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $73,833±$18kLowest 9% below VT |
$110,199±$14kHighest 36% above VT |
$98,750±$24k 22% above VT |
| Essex and Elmore are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $271,100±$27kLowest 14% below VT |
$447,300±$14kHighest 41% above VT |
$315,800±$47k about the VT average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,023±$136Lowest 17% below VT |
$1,569±$138Highest 27% above VT |
$1,225±$263 about the VT average |
| Essex and Elmore are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,421Lowest 12% below VT |
$6,602Highest 31% above VT |
$5,066 about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25.5%±37Lowest VT: 48.4% |
45.9%±13.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
31.8%±65.8 VT: 48.4% |
| Essex and Elmore are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5% VT: 10.1% |
3.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.9% VT: 73.2% |
75.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest same as VT |
1990Highest 14 yrs newer than VT |
1978 2 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 22% above VT |
22 minLowest 6% below VT |
29 minHighest 25% above VT |
| Work from home | 23.6%±4.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
21.5%±5.8 VT: 16.9% |
9.4%±4.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Worcester 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 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Essex Westford Educational Community Unified Union SD #51 | Elmore-Morristown Unified Union School District #90 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.