Compare towns
Essex vs Richmond 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).
Richmond has the most affordable homes ($432k 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 | Richmond | Williston | Jericho |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,516Highest |
4,159Lowest |
10,144 |
5,114 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.8% VT: +2.8% |
+2.1% VT: +2.8% |
+16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+1.9%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42.4±1.9Lowest about the VT average |
43.7±5.6 about the VT average |
45.4±4.5 5% above VT |
49.7±5.1Highest 15% above VT |
| Jericho and Williston 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% |
21.5%±5 VT: 17.9% |
20.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
19.5%±4.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Essex and Richmond 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% |
19.5%±6.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21%±3.5Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.2%±4.4 VT: 21.4% |
| Williston and Jericho 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% |
59.1% VT: 43.8% |
54.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
65.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.2 VT: 7% |
2.8%±1.7 VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7Highest VT: 7% |
2.4%±1.6Lowest 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 |
$108,235±$24k 33% above VT |
$106,967±$12kLowest 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 |
$432,200±$39kLowest 37% above VT |
$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±$138Lowest 27% above 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 |
$6,868 36% above VT |
$5,592Lowest 11% above VT |
$7,318Highest 45% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.9%±13.1 VT: 48.4% |
28.5%±15.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4 VT: 48.4% |
79.3%±52.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Jericho and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
4.2% VT: 10.1% |
4.3% VT: 10.1% |
0.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.9% VT: 73.2% |
78.8% 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 |
1983Lowest 7 yrs newer than VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
1983Lowest 7 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 6% below VT |
25 min 6% above VT |
20 minLowest 16% below VT |
26 minHighest 10% above VT |
| Work from home | 21.5%±5.8Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.5%±6.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6 VT: 16.9% |
21.8%±6.4 VT: 16.9% |
| Richmond and Williston 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 | #5 of 70 in VT | #11 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 | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 |
| High school in town | None 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 Our Story | 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.