Compare towns
Essex vs Jericho vs Mapleton vs Fairfax
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Essex has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Jericho has the oldest population (median age 49.7).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Fairfax has grown the fastest since 2010 (+17%).
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 | Jericho | Mapleton | Fairfax |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,516Highest |
5,114 |
1,884Lowest |
5,226 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+17%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.4±1.9 9% above U.S. |
49.7±5.1Highest 28% above U.S. |
41.8±6 7% above U.S. |
38.8±3.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Kids under 18 | 22.4%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
19.5%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
24%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.2%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.3%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
12.5%±4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
65.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
49.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Mapleton and Fairfax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $110,199±$14k 36% above U.S. |
$116,923±$16k 45% above U.S. |
$91,731±$25kLowest 14% above U.S. |
$128,963±$29kHighest 60% above U.S. |
| 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 34% above U.S. |
$493,100±$38kHighest 48% above U.S. |
$191,800±$23kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$378,200±$22k 14% above U.S. |
| 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 11% above U.S. |
$1,731±$111Highest 23% above U.S. |
$610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$1,080±$131 24% below U.S. |
| Jericho and Essex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,602 112% above U.S. |
$7,318Highest 135% above U.S. |
$1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
$5,497 76% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.9%±13.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
79.3%±52.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.3%±33.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Jericho and Essex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5% U.S.: 12.5% |
0.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1990 10 yrs newer than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1994Highest 14 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.5%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.8%±6.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
26.7%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #6 of 70 in VT | — | #36 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Essex Westford Educational Community Unified Union SD #51 | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Fairfax School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Mt. Mansfield Union High School | None in town | Bellows Free Academy Middle/High School (Fairfax) |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.0Highest |
— | 9.8Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.