Population 22,433 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Essex
Household size in Essex
| Period | Essex | Vermont | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.58 | 2.35 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.42 | 2.36 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.43 | 2.33 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.33 | 2.31 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.26 | −0.04 | −0.03 |
Essex is a place of small households, averaging 2.33 people against 2.65 for the U.S., which points to many singles, couples and roommates and relatively few children. Household size has dropped from 2.58 in 2006–10, a much bigger shift than nationally. The biggest households, usually families with children, are concentrated in the northeast.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in Essex
| Period | Essex | Vermont | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 36.8 | 40.9 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 40.3 | 42.3 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 40.6 | 43.5 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 40.4 | 44.2 | 40.1 |
| Change | +3.6 | +3.2 | +2.3 |
At 40.4, the median age in Essex is close to the national median of 40.1, so its age mix looks much like the country's. The population here is younger than in Vermont as a whole, where the median age is 44.2. Since 2006–10, the median age has climbed from 36.8, as it has nationally.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in Essex
| Period | Essex | Vermont | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 10.1% | 10.0% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 9.7% | 9.6% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 9.1% | 8.9% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 6.4% | 8.6% | 11.6% |
| Change | −3.8 pts | −1.4 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head only 6.4% of households in Essex, well below the national share of 11.6%. Since 2006–10, the single-parent share has fallen 3.8 points, a much bigger shift than nationally. Essex has a lower share of single-parent households than at least four in five Vermont cities.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in Essex
Renters in Essex
| Period | Essex | Vermont | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 22.7% | 28.6% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 27.6% | 29.1% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 29.5% | 29.2% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 32.3% | 26.8% | 34.8% |
| Change | +9.6 pts | −1.8 pts | +1.5 pts |
Renting in Essex is about as common as it is nationally: 32.3% of households rent, against 34.8%. Renters make up a bigger share here than in Vermont as a whole (26.8%). Among homeowners, 32.5% have no mortgage at all, below the national share of 39.8%. Since 2006–10, the renter share has risen 9.6 points, a much bigger shift than nationally.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in Essex
| Period | Essex | Vermont | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1.7% | 15.3% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 2.6% | 15.8% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 3.3% | 17.5% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 3.6% | 15.7% | 9.6% |
| Change | +1.9 pts | +0.4 pts | −1.8 pts |
Empty homes are scarce in Essex: just 3.6% sit vacant, compared with 9.6% nationally, a sign of a tight housing market. Vacancy is up 1.9 points from 2006–10, even as the national rate fell. Essex has the lowest vacancy rate of any Vermont city with 5,000+ people.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in Essex
| Period | Essex | Vermont | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1976 | 1967 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1979 | 1969 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1984 | 1971 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1987 | 1973 | 1980 |
| Change | +11 | +6 | +6 |
Homes in Essex are newer than the national norm: the median home was built in 1987, versus 1980 across the U.S. The median year built has moved up from 1976 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. Newer construction is concentrated in the northwest, while the southwest has the oldest housing. Of the 23 Vermont cities with 5,000+ people, only two have newer homes.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in Essex
| Period | Essex | Vermont | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $1,084 | $878 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $1,110 | $947 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,271 | $1,043 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,606 | $1,306 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$522 | +$428 | +$606 |
The median renter in Essex pays $1,606 a month for rent and utilities, close to the national median of $1,571. Rents here are higher than in Vermont overall ($1,306). Rents are up $522 a month from 2006–10, a 48% rise, a slower climb than the nation's. The typical renter here spends 30.6% of household income on rent, just over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in Essex
Bachelor's degrees in Essex
| Period | Essex | Vermont | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 45.3% | 34.7% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 46.9% | 36.0% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 52.4% | 38.8% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 56.7% | 44.6% | 35.6% |
| Change | +11.3 pts | +9.8 pts | +7.2 pts |
Essex is highly educated: nearly six in ten adults 25 and older (56.7%) hold at least a bachelor's degree, far above the national share of 35.6%. Since 2006–10, the share with a degree has risen 11.3 points, mirroring the country. College graduates are most concentrated in the southeast and least in the southwest.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in Essex
| Period | Essex | Vermont | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 94.8% | 90.8% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 96.0% | 91.7% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 94.8% | 92.8% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 96.9% | 94.8% | 89.3% |
| Change | +2.1 pts | +4.0 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion is high in Essex: 96.9% of adults 25 and older have a diploma or equivalent, well above the national rate of 89.3%. The share with a diploma is up 2.1 points from 2006–10, in line with the national trend. Essex has a higher share of high school graduates than at least four in five Vermont cities.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in Essex
| Period | Essex | Vermont | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 4.0% | 5.9% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 4.7% | 6.3% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 2.6% | 3.6% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 2.2% | 3.5% | 5.4% |
| Change | −1.8 pts | −2.3 pts | −2.7 pts |
The job market in Essex has been strong: just 2.2% of the labor force was out of work and looking, well below the national rate of 5.4%. Unemployment has fallen 1.8 points since 2006–10, as it has nationally. Because the Census pools five years of responses (2020–24), these rates smooth over short swings and lag the current job market.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
Essex compared with nearby cities
| City | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Essex | 2.33 | 40.4 | 6.4% | 32.3% | 3.6% | 1987 | $1,606 | 56.7% | 96.9% | 2.2% |
| Williston | 2.29 | 45.4 | 10.4% | 24.4% | 9.0% | 1993 | $1,883 | 54.5% | 96.4% | 1.8% |
| Winooski | 2.13 | 33.6 | 9.7% | 62.4% | 6.1% | 1967 | $1,642 | 55.1% | 81.1% | 1.0% |
| South Burlington | 2.24 | 38.8 | 7.9% | 39.9% | 4.4% | 1987 | $1,948 | 66.0% | 98.2% | 3.7% |
| Jericho | 2.44 | 48.2 | 4.2% | 8.9% | 2.4% | 1982 | $1,717 | 65.1% | 95.8% | 1.0% |
| Colchester | 2.32 | 43.2 | 9.9% | 27.1% | 10.2% | 1981 | $1,214 | 40.3% | 96.3% | 3.6% |
| Essex Junction | 2.80 | 46.2 | 7.5% | 11.5% | 3.7% | 1982 | $2,261 | 52.7% | 95.3% | 3.6% |
| Burlington | 2.03 | 32.2 | 6.0% | 57.8% | 3.9% | 1962 | $1,635 | 65.0% | 95.7% | 4.4% |
| Underhill Center | 2.45 | 48.9 | 6.2% | 3.1% | 4.2% | 1984 | $1,543 | 73.0% | 100.0% | 1.0% |
| Westford | 2.81 | 43.5 | 7.8% | 12.9% | 4.4% | 1982 | $2,216 | 50.0% | 95.5% | 3.5% |
| Richmond | 2.34 | 42.2 | 9.7% | 20.9% | 5.6% | 1982 | $1,527 | 58.8% | 97.6% | 1.0% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Ridgefield, WA · Matteson, IL · Mays Landing, NJ · McAlester, OK · McNair, VA · Mechanicsville, MD · Merchantville, NJ · Merrick, NY · Middletown, PA · Milford, MI
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up Essex. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
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