Compare towns
Jericho vs Acton vs Dorset
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Jericho has the most affordable homes ($493k median).
Acton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.6%).
Dorset has the shortest commute (22 min average).
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 | Jericho | Acton | Dorset |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,114 |
24,155Highest |
2,092Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.7±5.1Highest 28% above U.S. |
44.5±0.8Lowest 14% above U.S. |
45.9±7.5 18% above U.S. |
| Jericho and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.5%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
24%±5.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Dorset and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.2%±4.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±4.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dorset and Jericho are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 65.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
79.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
72.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Acton and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $116,923±$16k 45% above U.S. |
$158,230±$14kHighest 96% above U.S. |
$111,250±$40kLowest 38% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $493,100±$38kLowest 48% above U.S. |
$807,300±$20kHighest 143% above U.S. |
$569,200±$57k 71% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,731±$111 23% above U.S. |
$1,986±$155Highest 41% above U.S. |
$1,420±$296Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Acton and Jericho are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,318Lowest 135% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$7,489 140% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 79.3%±52.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.7%±11.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
74.4%±22.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Jericho and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 0.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
74.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the U.S. average |
35 minHighest 31% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 18% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.8%±6.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
35.9%±4.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
29.3%±7.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Acton and Dorset 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 | #13 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 | Acton-Boxborough | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 |
| High school in town | Mt. Mansfield Union High School | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.0Lowest |
13.5Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.