Compare towns
Dorset 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
Dorset has the most people working from home (29.3%).
Essex Junction has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).
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 | Dorset | Essex Junction | Jericho |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,092Lowest |
10,803Highest |
5,114 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5% VT: +2.8% |
+14.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+1.9%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.9±7.5 6% above VT |
39.3±3.1Lowest 9% below 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 | 24%±5.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
19.6%±3.2 VT: 17.9% |
19.5%±4.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Dorset and Essex Junction are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±4.5Highest VT: 21.4% |
14.9%±2.5Lowest 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+ | 72.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
52.4%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
65.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±2.1 VT: 7% |
6.7%±2.2Highest VT: 7% |
2.4%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
| Essex Junction and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $111,250±$40k 37% above VT |
$89,257±$16kLowest 10% 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 | $569,200±$57kHighest 80% above VT |
$407,500±$20kLowest 29% 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 | $1,420±$296Lowest 15% above 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 | $7,489Highest 49% above VT |
$6,797Lowest 35% above VT |
$7,318 45% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 74.4%±22.5 VT: 48.4% |
61.3%±14.5Lowest 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 | 11.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
9.5% VT: 10.1% |
0.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7% VT: 73.2% |
59.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 8% below VT |
19 minLowest 18% below VT |
26 minHighest 10% above VT |
| Work from home | 29.3%±7.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±4Lowest 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 | — | #14 of 70 in VT | #6 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | Essex Westford Educational Community Unified Union SD #51 | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 |
| High school in town | None in town | Essex High School | Mt. Mansfield Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.7Lowest |
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.