Compare towns
Colchester vs Dorset vs Jericho
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Colchester has the most affordable homes ($394k median).
Dorset has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5%).
Jericho has the oldest population (median age 49.7).
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 | Colchester | Dorset | Jericho |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 17,648Highest |
2,092Lowest |
5,114 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.7% VT: +2.8% |
+5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+1.9%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 39.3±1.4Lowest 9% below VT |
45.9±7.5 6% above VT |
49.7±5.1Highest 15% above VT |
| Jericho and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.1%±2.5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
24%±5.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
19.5%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Dorset and Jericho are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.9%±2.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21.9%±4.5Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.2%±4.4 VT: 21.4% |
| Dorset and Jericho are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40.8%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
72.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
65.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 10.9%±1.3Highest VT: 7% |
2.8%±2.1 VT: 7% |
2.4%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $97,891±$9kLowest 21% above VT |
$111,250±$40k 37% above VT |
$116,923±$16kHighest 44% above VT |
| Jericho and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $394,400±$25kLowest 25% above VT |
$569,200±$57kHighest 80% above VT |
$493,100±$38k 56% above VT |
| Dorset and Jericho are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,474±$122 19% above VT |
$1,420±$296Lowest 15% above VT |
$1,731±$111Highest 40% above VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,471Lowest 9% above VT |
$7,489Highest 49% above VT |
$7,318 45% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.2%±10.6Lowest VT: 48.4% |
74.4%±22.5 VT: 48.4% |
79.3%±52.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Jericho and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7% VT: 10.1% |
11.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
0.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.7% VT: 73.2% |
92.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 15% below VT |
22 min 8% below VT |
26 minHighest 10% above VT |
| Work from home | 19%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
29.3%±7.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
21.8%±6.4 VT: 16.9% |
| Dorset 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 | #18 of 70 in VT | — | #6 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Colchester School District | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 |
| High school in town | Colchester High School | None in town | Mt. Mansfield Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.8Lowest |
— | 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.