Compare towns
Barre vs Essex Junction vs Jericho
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Barre has the most affordable homes ($210k median).
Essex Junction has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).
Jericho has the most homeowners (92.9%).
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.
| Measure | Barre | Essex Junction | Jericho |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,412 |
10,803Highest |
5,114Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+14.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+1.9% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42.2±6.6 about the VT average |
39.3±3.1Lowest 9% below VT |
49.7±5.1Highest 15% above VT |
| Jericho and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.5%±3.8Lowest VT: 17.9% |
19.6%±3.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
19.5%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Essex Junction and Jericho are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.4%±3.9 VT: 21.4% |
14.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
20.2%±4.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Jericho and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
52.4% VT: 43.8% |
65.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±1.9 VT: 7% |
6.7%±2.2Highest VT: 7% |
2.4%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
| Essex Junction and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $65,625±$7kLowest 19% below VT |
$89,257±$16k 10% above VT |
$116,923±$16kHighest 44% above VT |
| Jericho and Essex Junction are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $210,400±$15kLowest 34% below VT |
$407,500±$20k 29% above VT |
$493,100±$38kHighest 56% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,093±$58Lowest 11% below VT |
$1,544±$135 25% above VT |
$1,731±$111Highest 40% above VT |
| Jericho and Essex Junction are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,192Lowest 3% above VT |
$6,797 35% above VT |
$7,318Highest 45% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 34.4%±10.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
61.3%±14.5 VT: 48.4% |
79.3%±52.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Jericho and Essex Junction are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 17.3%Highest VT: 10.1% |
9.5% VT: 10.1% |
0.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 50.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
59.3% VT: 73.2% |
92.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1947Lowest 29 yrs older than VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 21% below VT |
19 min 18% below VT |
26 minHighest 10% above VT |
| Work from home | 10.5%±4.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±4 VT: 16.9% |
21.8%±6.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Jericho and Essex Junction 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 | #19 of 70 in VT | #14 of 70 in VT | #6 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Barre Unified Union School District #97 · Central Vermont Career Center | Essex Westford Educational Community Unified Union SD #51 | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 |
| High school in town | Spaulding Union High School | Essex High School | Mt. Mansfield Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7Lowest |
11.7 |
13.0Highest |
| 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.