Compare towns
Bridgewater vs Jericho vs Williston vs Fairlee
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bridgewater has the most affordable homes ($218k median).
Jericho has the highest household income ($117k).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Fairlee has the oldest housing (typical home built 1972).
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 | Bridgewater | Jericho | Williston | Fairlee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 980Lowest |
5,114 |
10,144Highest |
1,066 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+1.9% VT: +2.8% |
+16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+1.1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 57.1±8Highest 32% above VT |
49.7±5.1 15% above VT |
45.4±4.5Lowest 5% above VT |
56.2±8.7 30% above VT |
| Bridgewater and Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 12.8%±5.8 VT: 17.9% |
19.5%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
20.5%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
12.2%±4.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Williston and Jericho are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 30.2%±0.7 VT: 21.4% |
20.2%±4.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
33.4%±5.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Fairlee and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
65.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
54.9% VT: 43.8% |
46.5% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±3.8Highest VT: 7% |
2.4%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7 VT: 7% |
5.3%±3.7 VT: 7% |
| Bridgewater and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $70,272±$3kLowest 13% below VT |
$116,923±$16kHighest 44% above VT |
$106,967±$12k 32% above VT |
$74,760±$10k 8% below VT |
| Jericho and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $218,300±$55kLowest 31% below VT |
$493,100±$38kHighest 56% above VT |
$475,800±$40k 50% above VT |
$274,200±$39k 13% below VT |
| Jericho and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $850±$778Lowest 31% below VT |
$1,731±$111 40% above VT |
$1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
$1,083±$242 12% below VT |
| Williston and Jericho are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,418Lowest 32% below VT |
$7,318Highest 45% above VT |
$5,592 11% above VT |
$5,617 11% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.7%±39.1 VT: 48.4% |
79.3%±52.9 VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4Lowest VT: 48.4% |
89.2%±71.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Fairlee and Jericho are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 14.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
0.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
4.3% VT: 10.1% |
14.7% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.4% VT: 73.2% |
92.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
75.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
80.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 same as VT |
1983 7 yrs newer than VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min about the VT average |
26 minHighest 10% above VT |
20 minLowest 16% below VT |
24 min 3% above VT |
| Work from home | 10.5%±6.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
21.8%±6.4 VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
15%±7.9 VT: 16.9% |
| Williston and Jericho 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 | — | #6 of 70 in VT | #11 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | — | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Rivendell Interstate School District |
| High school in town | — | Mt. Mansfield Union High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.0 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.