Compare towns
Essex Junction vs Jericho vs Middlebury
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Essex Junction has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).
Jericho has the most homeowners (92.9%).
Middlebury has the youngest population (median age 31.8).
Middlebury is a college town. 32.6% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Essex Junction | Jericho | Middlebury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,803Highest |
5,114Lowest |
9,175 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+1.9%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+7.7% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 39.3±3.1 9% below VT |
49.7±5.1Highest 15% above VT |
31.8±3.7Lowest 26% below VT |
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±3.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
19.5%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
11.6%±1.9Lowest 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+ | 14.9%±2.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
20.2%±4.4 VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±2.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Middlebury and Jericho are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52.4%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
65.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
55.4% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.7%±2.2 VT: 7% |
2.4%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
32.6%±1.1Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $89,257±$16k 10% above VT |
$116,923±$16kHighest 44% above VT |
$86,169±$16kLowest 6% 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 | $407,500±$20kLowest 29% above VT |
$493,100±$38kHighest 56% above VT |
$409,700±$30k 29% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,544±$135 25% above VT |
$1,731±$111Highest 40% above VT |
$1,156±$113Lowest 6% below 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 | $6,797Lowest 35% above VT |
$7,318Highest 45% above VT |
$6,868 36% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61.3%±14.5 VT: 48.4% |
79.3%±52.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
50.9%±14.4Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Jericho and Essex Junction are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.5% VT: 10.1% |
0.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
10.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
65.1% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
1976Lowest same as VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 18% below VT |
26 minHighest 10% above VT |
16 minLowest 33% below VT |
| Work from home | 16.9%±4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
21.8%±6.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
18.8%±4.1 VT: 16.9% |
| Jericho and Middlebury 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 | #17 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Essex Westford Educational Community Unified Union SD #51 | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 | Patricia Hannaford Career Center · Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 |
| High school in town | Essex High School | Mt. Mansfield Union High School | Middlebury Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.7Lowest |
13.0Highest |
12.6 |
| 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.