Compare towns
Essex vs Plainfield vs Williston 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 most kids (22.4% under 18).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($318k median).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Jericho has the most homeowners (92.9%).
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 | Plainfield | Williston | Jericho |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,516Highest |
1,314Lowest |
10,144 |
5,114 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.8% VT: +2.8% |
-0.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+1.9% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42.4±1.9Lowest about the VT average |
48.1±5.5 12% above VT |
45.4±4.5 5% above VT |
49.7±5.1Highest 15% above VT |
| Jericho and Plainfield 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% |
16.3%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
20.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
19.5%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Essex and Williston 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% |
21.1%±3.5Highest VT: 21.4% |
21%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
20.2%±4.4 VT: 21.4% |
| Plainfield and Williston 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% |
48.2%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
54.9% VT: 43.8% |
65.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.2 VT: 7% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7Highest VT: 7% |
2.4%±1.6 VT: 7% |
| Williston 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 |
$69,250±$31kLowest 15% below VT |
$106,967±$12k 32% above VT |
$116,923±$16kHighest 44% 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 |
$318,400±$34kLowest about the VT average |
$475,800±$40k 50% above VT |
$493,100±$38kHighest 56% above VT |
| Jericho and Williston 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 |
$1,153±$103Lowest 7% below VT |
$1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
$1,731±$111 40% above VT |
| Williston and Jericho 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 |
$4,806Lowest 5% below VT |
$5,592 11% above VT |
$7,318Highest 45% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.9%±13.1Lowest VT: 48.4% |
73.2%±53.9 VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4 VT: 48.4% |
79.3%±52.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Jericho and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5% VT: 10.1% |
11.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
4.3% VT: 10.1% |
0.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.9% VT: 73.2% |
80.9% VT: 73.2% |
75.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1990 14 yrs newer than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
1983 7 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 6% below VT |
24 min about the VT average |
20 minLowest 16% below VT |
26 minHighest 10% above VT |
| Work from home | 21.5%±5.8 VT: 16.9% |
16.4%±4.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
21.8%±6.4 VT: 16.9% |
| Williston 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 | — | #11 of 70 in VT | #6 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Essex Westford Educational Community Unified Union SD #51 | — | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town | Mt. Mansfield Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 13.0 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.