Compare towns

Dorset vs Jericho vs Townsend

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Dorset has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5%).
Jericho has the oldest population (median age 49.7).
Townsend has the most affordable homes ($433k median).

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.

MeasureDorsetJerichoTownsend
People
Population
2,092Lowest
5,114
9,100Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+5%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+1.9%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+2.3%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
45.9±7.5
18% above U.S.
49.7±5.1Highest
28% above U.S.
40.9±3.3Lowest
5% above U.S.
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
U.S.: 22%
19.5%±4.2Lowest
U.S.: 22%
21%±3.2
U.S.: 22%
Dorset and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
21.9%±4.5Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
20.2%±4.4
U.S.: 17.2%
17.1%±2.1Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
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
U.S.: 35.7%
65.3%
U.S.: 35.7%
35.5%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.8%±2.1
U.S.: 6.4%
2.4%±1.6Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.1%±2.4Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Townsend 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±$40kLowest
38% above U.S.
$116,923±$16k
45% above U.S.
$121,528±$23kHighest
51% above U.S.
Townsend and Jericho are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$569,200±$57kHighest
71% above U.S.
$493,100±$38k
48% above U.S.
$433,200±$22kLowest
30% above U.S.
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
about the U.S. average
$1,731±$111Highest
23% above U.S.
$1,469±$313
4% above U.S.
Jericho and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$7,489Highest
140% above U.S.
$7,318
135% above U.S.
$6,031Lowest
93% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
74.4%±22.5
U.S.: 51.1%
79.3%±52.9Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
50.6%±16.8Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
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
U.S.: 12.5%
0.9%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
8.9%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
90.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
92.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
82%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1972Lowest
8 yrs older than U.S.
1983Highest
3 yrs newer than U.S.
1976
4 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
22 minLowest
18% below U.S.
26 min
about the U.S. average
37 minHighest
41% above U.S.
Work from home
29.3%±7.5Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
21.8%±6.4
U.S.: 15.1%
10.5%±2.8Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
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 — #6 of 70 in VT #136 of 282 in MA
School district Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 North Middlesex
High school in town None in town Mt. Mansfield Union High School North Middlesex Regional
Students per teacherat that high school —
13.0Lowest
13.1Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet None yet None yet

U.S. 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.