Compare towns

Bennington vs Jericho vs Essex Junction

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Bennington has the most affordable homes ($213k median).
Jericho has the most homeowners (92.9%).
Essex Junction has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).

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.

MeasureBenningtonJerichoEssex Junction
People
Population
15,249Highest
5,114Lowest
10,803
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-2.7%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
+1.9%
VT: +2.8%
+14.2%Highest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
44.7±2.3
4% above VT
49.7±5.1Highest
15% above VT
39.3±3.1Lowest
9% below VT
Jericho and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
17.7%±2.3Lowest
VT: 17.9%
19.5%±4.2
VT: 17.9%
19.6%±3.2Highest
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+
25.2%±2.8Highest
VT: 21.4%
20.2%±4.4
VT: 21.4%
14.9%±2.5Lowest
VT: 21.4%
Bennington and Jericho are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
36.9%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
65.3%Highest
VT: 43.8%
52.4%
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.8%±1.6
VT: 7%
2.4%±1.6Lowest
VT: 7%
6.7%±2.2Highest
VT: 7%
Essex Junction and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$59,446±$7kLowest
27% below VT
$116,923±$16kHighest
44% above VT
$89,257±$16k
10% 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
$213,300±$15kLowest
33% below VT
$493,100±$38kHighest
56% above VT
$407,500±$20k
29% above VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,133±$63Lowest
8% below VT
$1,731±$111Highest
40% above VT
$1,544±$135
25% 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
$4,513Lowest
10% below VT
$7,318Highest
45% above VT
$6,797
35% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
68.8%±14.1
VT: 48.4%
79.3%±52.9Highest
VT: 48.4%
61.3%±14.5Lowest
VT: 48.4%
Jericho and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
13.2%Highest
VT: 10.1%
0.9%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
9.5%
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
58.4%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
92.9%Highest
VT: 73.2%
59.3%
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1961Lowest
15 yrs older than VT
1983Highest
7 yrs newer than VT
1983Highest
7 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
17 minLowest
27% below VT
26 minHighest
10% above VT
19 min
18% below VT
Work from home
15.1%±4.4Lowest
VT: 16.9%
21.8%±6.4Highest
VT: 16.9%
16.9%±4
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 #58 of 70 in VT #6 of 70 in VT #14 of 70 in VT
School district Southwest Tech · Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 Essex Westford Educational Community Unified Union SD #51
High school in town Mt. Anthony Senior Union High School Mt. Mansfield Union High School Essex High School
Students per teacherat that high school
14.7Highest
13.0
11.7Lowest
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.