What it's like to live in Essex Junction
Essex Junction is a small city in Vermont with unemployment below the national average, household incomes running above the national average, commutes that run shorter than most cities, and air quality that stays clean most of the year. Those factors carry real weight for anyone weighing where to move next.
The tradeoffs are worth naming plainly. Essex Junction deals with a rent burden that leaves many renters stretched thin, cold, harsh winters, heavy snowfall, and fewer dining and entertainment options than a bigger city.
The good
- Low unemployment
- Higher-than-average incomes
- Short commutes
- Clean air
- Highly educated workforce
- Low student-teacher ratio
The not so good
- High rent burden for renters
- Cold, harsh winters
- Heavy snowfall — 86" per year
- Smaller place — fewer dining and entertainment options
How Essex Junction compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to Essex Junction
Based on Essex Junction's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$3,088
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $61,760 a year
- 61% of Essex Junction renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$81,500
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $40,750
- Homes cost 4.6× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of livingNear US average
$1,544/mo median rent
Rent is pretty middle of the road, at $1,544 a month median. Not a bargain, not a budget-buster. About typical for a city this size. Home prices run above average, with a median around $407,500. Buyers should expect to stretch their budget here.
Median home value $407,500 · 61% of renters cost-burdened
Job market▼ 49% below US
2.2% unemployment
Unemployment here is 2.2%, well below the national average of 4.3%.
City-level (BLS)
Getting around▼ 26% below US
19 min average commute
Commutes are reasonable, averaging 19.2 minutes. Nothing heroic, and there's still time left over for a life after work. 8 in 10 workers drive to work; 17% work from home.
How workers get to work
Climate
Summers are comfortable, with highs around 79°F, and winters are cold and harsh, with lows dropping to 13°F. Rainfall is regular throughout the year.
Average month
30-year averages, 1991–2020
Education & workforce▲ 46% above US
52% bachelor's degree or higher
This is a highly educated city, with over half the adult population holding a college degree. That tends to shape the job market and the broader culture, and it's a solid indicator of a strong professional scene.
Schools
6 public schools inside the boundary
There are 6 public schools inside the boundary. The student-to-teacher ratio is 12:1, well below the national average of 16:1. Smaller class sizes are generally a positive sign for a district.
Parks & recreation
The nearest national park or historic site is Marsh - Billings - Rockefeller National Historical Park (66 miles away). There are 2 national parks and sites within a day's drive.
Bottom line
Essex Junction's strongest points are unemployment below the national average and household incomes running above the national average; the main tradeoffs are a rent burden that leaves many renters stretched thin and cold, harsh winters. A year of median rent ($1,544/mo) equals 21% of the median household income here, about the same as the 21% typical nationwide. It tends to suit job seekers, remote workers (17% of workers here already work from home), and people who want short commutes. It may be a harder fit for anyone who dislikes long, cold winters.
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