Compare towns
Jericho vs Acton vs Essex
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 homeowners (92.9%).
Acton has the most people working from home (35.9%).
Essex has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.8%).
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 | Essex |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,114Lowest |
24,155Highest |
11,516 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.7±5.1Highest 28% above U.S. |
44.5±0.8 14% above U.S. |
42.4±1.9Lowest 9% above U.S. |
| Jericho and Acton 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%±2.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
22.4%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Acton and Essex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.2%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.9%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Jericho and Essex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 65.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
79.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
57.6%Lowest 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%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Acton and Essex 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. |
$110,199±$14kLowest 36% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $493,100±$38k 48% above U.S. |
$807,300±$20kHighest 143% above U.S. |
$447,300±$14kLowest 34% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,731±$111 23% above U.S. |
$1,986±$155Highest 41% above U.S. |
$1,569±$138Lowest 11% above U.S. |
| Acton and Jericho are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,318 135% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,602Lowest 112% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 79.3%±52.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.7%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
45.9%±13.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Jericho and Acton 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% |
5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
74.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1990Highest 10 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the U.S. average |
35 minHighest 31% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.8%±6.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
35.9%±4.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.5%±5.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #6 of 70 in VT | #13 of 282 in MA | #13 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 | Acton-Boxborough | Essex Westford Educational Community Unified Union SD #51 |
| 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 |
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| 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.