Compare towns
Fairlee vs Jericho vs Williston vs Orford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Fairlee has the oldest population (median age 56.2).
Jericho has the most homeowners (92.9%).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Orford has the most affordable homes ($272k 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 | Fairlee | Jericho | Williston | Orford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,066Lowest |
5,114 |
10,144Highest |
1,295 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
0%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 56.2±8.7Highest 44% above U.S. |
49.7±5.1 28% above U.S. |
45.4±4.5Lowest 17% above U.S. |
48.9±3.3 26% above U.S. |
| Fairlee and Jericho are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 12.2%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.5%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.3%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Williston and Jericho are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 33.4%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.2%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
25.5%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Fairlee and Orford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
65.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
44%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±3.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Williston and Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $74,760±$10kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$116,923±$16kHighest 45% above U.S. |
$106,967±$12k 32% above U.S. |
$92,571±$24k 15% above U.S. |
| Jericho and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $274,200±$39k 18% below U.S. |
$493,100±$38kHighest 48% above U.S. |
$475,800±$40k 43% above U.S. |
$271,900±$25kLowest 18% below U.S. |
| Jericho and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,083±$242Lowest 23% below U.S. |
$1,731±$111 23% above U.S. |
$1,832±$130Highest 30% above U.S. |
$1,263±$686 11% below U.S. |
| Williston and Jericho are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,617 80% above U.S. |
$7,318Highest 135% above U.S. |
$5,592Lowest 79% above U.S. |
$5,836 87% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 89.2%±71.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
79.3%±52.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±17.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.8%±10.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Fairlee and Jericho are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 14.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
0.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 8% below U.S. |
26 minHighest about the U.S. average |
20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
26 min 3% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 15%±7.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.8%±6.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | — | #6 of 70 in VT | #11 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Rivendell Interstate School District | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Rivendell Interstate School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Mt. Mansfield Union High School | None in town | Rivendell Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.0Highest |
— | 9.5Lowest |
| 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.