Compare towns
Essex vs Jericho vs Reading
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Essex has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.8%).
Jericho has the most expensive homes ($493k median).
Reading has the most affordable homes ($377k 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.
| Measure | Essex | Jericho | Reading |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,516Highest |
5,114 |
699Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+1.9%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.2% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42.4±1.9Lowest about the VT average |
49.7±5.1 15% above VT |
51.1±7.6Highest 19% above VT |
| Reading and Jericho are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.4%±3.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
19.5%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
18.5%±4.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Essex and Jericho are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.9%±3.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
20.2%±4.4 VT: 21.4% |
28.2%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 57.6% VT: 43.8% |
65.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
46%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.2 VT: 7% |
2.4%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5Highest VT: 7% |
| Reading 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±$14k 36% above VT |
$116,923±$16kHighest 44% above VT |
$85,000±$19kLowest 5% above VT |
| Jericho and Essex 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 |
$493,100±$38kHighest 56% above VT |
$377,200±$72kLowest 19% 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 |
$1,731±$111Highest 40% above VT |
$1,100±$331Lowest 11% below 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 |
$7,318Highest 45% above VT |
$5,754Lowest 14% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.9%±13.1Lowest VT: 48.4% |
79.3%±52.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7 VT: 48.4% |
| Jericho and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5% VT: 10.1% |
0.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
84.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1990Highest 14 yrs newer than VT |
1983 7 yrs newer than VT |
1969Lowest 7 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 6% below VT |
26 min 10% above VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
| Work from home | 21.5%±5.8Lowest VT: 16.9% |
21.8%±6.4 VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Reading 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 | — |
| School district | Essex Westford Educational Community Unified Union SD #51 | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 |
| High school in town | None in town | Mt. Mansfield Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.0 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.