Compare towns
Essex vs Fairfax vs Jericho
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Essex has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Fairfax has grown the fastest since 2010 (+17%).
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 | Essex | Fairfax | Jericho |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,516Highest |
5,226 |
5,114Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.8% VT: +2.8% |
+17%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+1.9%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42.4±1.9 about the VT average |
38.8±3.3Lowest 10% below VT |
49.7±5.1Highest 15% above VT |
| Kids under 18 | 22.4%±3.3 VT: 17.9% |
24%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
19.5%±4.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Fairfax and Essex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.9%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
12.5%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
20.2%±4.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Jericho and Essex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 57.6% VT: 43.8% |
49.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
65.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.2 VT: 7% |
4.3%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
2.4%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
| Fairfax and Essex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $110,199±$14kLowest 36% above VT |
$128,963±$29kHighest 59% above VT |
$116,923±$16k 44% above VT |
| Fairfax and Jericho are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $447,300±$14k 41% above VT |
$378,200±$22kLowest 19% above VT |
$493,100±$38kHighest 56% above VT |
| Jericho and Essex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,569±$138 27% above VT |
$1,080±$131Lowest 12% below VT |
$1,731±$111Highest 40% above VT |
| Jericho and Essex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,602 31% above VT |
$5,497Lowest 9% above VT |
$7,318Highest 45% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.9%±13.1 VT: 48.4% |
43.3%±33.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
79.3%±52.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Jericho and Essex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5% VT: 10.1% |
5.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
0.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
85.7% VT: 73.2% |
92.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1990 14 yrs newer than VT |
1994Highest 18 yrs newer than VT |
1983Lowest 7 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 6% below VT |
31 minHighest 31% above VT |
26 min 10% above VT |
| Work from home | 21.5%±5.8Lowest VT: 16.9% |
26.7%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
21.8%±6.4 VT: 16.9% |
| Fairfax 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 | #13 of 70 in VT | #36 of 70 in VT | #6 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Essex Westford Educational Community Unified Union SD #51 | Fairfax School District | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 |
| High school in town | None in town | Bellows Free Academy Middle/High School (Fairfax) | Mt. Mansfield Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.8Lowest |
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.