Moving to Essex Junction, Vermont

Essex Junction, Vermont is a small village in the northwestern corner of the state. It is part of Chittenden County and has a population of 9,271 people as of 2020. The village sits along the banks of the Winooski River and is surrounded by lush green hills.

Essex Junction was first settled in 1763 by Revolutionary War veterans and was originally known as “The Forks” due to its location at the junction of two roads. The town was renamed Essex Junction in 1856 after local businessman Oren B. Essex. In 1892, a railroad line was built through the village and it quickly became an important transportation hub for goods traveling between Montreal, Canada and Boston, Massachusetts.

Today, Essex Junction is home to IBM’s microelectronics plant which employs over 4,000 people from all over Vermont. This plant manufactures semiconductors used in computers and other electronic devices all over the world. Additionally, there are several smaller businesses located in town including restaurants, cafes, shops and service providers such as barbershops and pet groomers.

Essex Junction also offers plenty of recreational activities for residents to enjoy throughout the year including fishing in the Winooski River or biking on one of many trails that run through town. The village also has several parks which offer picnic areas, playgrounds, sports fields and courts for basketball or tennis matches. In addition to these outdoor activities, there are also several cultural events held throughout each year such as art shows featuring local artists or outdoor concerts with live music performances from local bands or national acts alike.

In addition to its numerous recreational opportunities, Essex Junction is also home to some great schools such as Essex High School which offers a comprehensive curriculum from grades nine through twelve as well as an array of Advanced Placement courses for those interested in pursuing higher education after graduation. The town also boasts a number of religious organizations that serve residents’ spiritual needs including Catholic parishes such as St Joseph’s Church or Congregational churches like Trinity United Methodist Church which offers Sunday services with bible study classes available during weekdays too.

Overall Essex Junction is a great place to live with plenty of recreational activities available year-round coupled with excellent educational opportunities offered both inside and outside school walls; while still maintaining its small-town charm through various cultural events held throughout each year that bring residents together regardless of their faith backgrounds or beliefs making it truly an ideal place for anyone looking for an enjoyable place to call home.

Population: 8,591. Estimated population in July 2024: 8,841 (+2.9% change)
Males: 4,243 (49.4%), Females: 4,348 (50.6%)

Chittenden County

Demographics

Median resident age: 36.4 years
Median household income: $53,444
Median house value: $136,400

Population by Race

Races in Essex Junction:

  • White Non-Hispanic (94.7%)
  • Hispanic (1.1%)
  • Two or more races (0.9%)
  • Chinese (0.7%)
  • Black (0.7%)
  • Asian Indian (0.6%)
  • American Indian (0.5%)

Ancestries: Irish (20.7%), French (15.9%), English (15.2%), French Canadian (9.6%), German (9.0%), Italian (6.9%).

Elevation: 347 feet

Land area: 4.8 square miles

Population by Education

For population 25 years and over in Essex Junction

  • High school or higher: 92.5%
  • Bachelor’s degree or higher: 39.1%
  • Graduate or professional degree: 13.9%
  • Unemployed: 4.7%
  • Mean travel time to work: 18.8 minutes

For population 15 years and over in Essex Junction village

  • Never married: 24.3%
  • Now married: 59.0%
  • Separated: 1.4%
  • Widowed: 4.6%
  • Divorced: 10.6%

7.1% Foreign born (2.4% Europe, 2.3% North America, 2.0% Asia).

Population change in the 1990s: +177 (+2.1%).

Hospitals

Hospitals/medical centers near Essex Junction:

  • FLETCHER ALLEN HOSPITAL OF VERMONT (about 8 miles; BURLINGTON, VT)
  • NORTHWESTERN MEDICAL CENTER INC (about 22 miles; SAINT ALBANS, VT)
  • VERMONT STATE HOSP DISTINCT PART UNIT (about 26 miles; WATERBURY, VT)

Airports

Airports certified for carrier operations nearest to Essex Junction:

  • BURLINGTON INTL (about 4 miles; BURLINGTON, VT; Abbreviation: BTV)
  • CLINTON CO (about 32 miles; PLATTSBURGH, NY; Abbreviation: PLB)
  • RUTLAND STATE (about 69 miles; RUTLAND, VT; Abbreviation: RUT)

Other public-use airports nearest to Essex Junction:

  • BASIN HARBOR (about 27 miles; VERGENNES, VT; Abbreviation: B06)
  • PLATTSBURGH INTL (about 28 miles; PLATTSBURGH, NY; Abbreviation: PBG)
  • FRANKLIN COUNTY STATE (about 31 miles; HIGHGATE, VT; Abbreviation: FSO)

Amtrak station:
BURLINGTON-ESSEX JUNCTION (29 RAILROAD AVE.). Services: ticket office, partially wheelchair accessible, enclosed waiting area, public restrooms, public payphones, vending machines, ATM, free short-term parking, free long-term parking, call for car rental service, call for taxi service, public transit connection.

Colleges and Universities

College/University in Essex Junction:

  • NEW ENGLAND CULINARY INSTITUTE AT ESSEX (Full-time enrollment: 160; Location: 48-1/2 PARK ST; Private, for-profit)

Colleges and Universities

Colleges/universities with over 2000 students nearest to Essex Junction:

  • SAINT MICHAELS COLLEGE (about 4 miles; COLCHESTER, VT; Full-time enrollment: 2,272)
  • UNIVERSITY OF VERMONT AND STATE AGRICULTURAL COLL (about 4 miles; BURLINGTON, VT; Full-time enrollment: 8,852)
  • SUNY COLLEGE AT PLATTSBURGH (about 29 miles; PLATTSBURGH, NY; Full-time enrollment: 5,601)
  • MIDDLEBURY COLLEGE (about 34 miles; MIDDLEBURY, VT; Full-time enrollment: 2,265)
  • NORWICH UNIVERSITY (about 40 miles; NORTHFIELD, VT; Full-time enrollment: 2,585)
  • DARTMOUTH COLLEGE (about 80 miles; HANOVER, NH; Full-time enrollment: 5,309)
  • ADIRONDACK COMMUNITY COLLEGE (about 90 miles; QUEENSBURY, NY; Full-time enrollment: 2,182)

Schools

Public high school in Essex Junction:

  • ESSEX COMM. ED. CTR. UHSD # (Students: 1,596; Location: 2 EDUCATIONAL DRIVE; Grades: 09 – 12)

Public primary/middle schools in Essex Junction:

  • ESSEX MIDDLE SCHOOL (Students: 543; Location: 40 FOSTER ROAD; Grades: 06 – 08)
  • FOUNDERS MEMORIAL SCHOOL (Students: 436; Location: 168 SAND HILL; Grades: 03 – 05)
  • ESSEX ELEMENTARY SCHOOL (Students: 424; Location: 1 BIXBY HILL ROAD; Grades: PK – 02)
  • ALBERT D. LAWTON SCHOOL (Students: 356; Location: 104 MAPLE STREET; Grades: 06 – 08)
  • THOMAS FLEMING SCHOOL (Students: 219; Location: PROSPECT STREET; Grades: 04 – 05)
  • SUMMIT STREET SCHOOL (Students: 217; Location: 17 SUMMIT STREET; Grades: KG – 03)
  • HIAWATHA SCHOOL (Students: 213; Location: 34 HIAWATHA AVENUE; Grades: PK – 03)
  • CHITTENDEN CENTRAL S.U. (Students: 17; Location: 21 NEW ENGLAND DRIVE; Grades: PK – KG)

Private primary/middle schools in Essex Junction:

  • ED-U-CARE CHILDREN’S CENTER (Students: 131; Location: #5 EWING PLACE; Grades: PK – KG)
  • NORTH COUNTRY CHRISTIAN ACADEM (Students: 86; Location: 134 MAIN ST; Grades: PK – 10)

Libraries

Library in Essex Junction:

  • BROWNELL (Operating income: $427,654; Location: 6 LINCOLN ST.; 58,838 books; 2,635 audio materials; 1,715 video materials; 184 serial subscriptions)