Compare towns
Jericho vs Barre vs Essex
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Jericho has the most homeowners (92.9%).
Barre has the most affordable homes ($210k median).
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 | Barre | Essex |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,114Lowest |
8,412 |
11,516Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9% VT: +2.8% |
-6.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+12.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 49.7±5.1Highest 15% above VT |
42.2±6.6Lowest about the VT average |
42.4±1.9 about the VT average |
| Kids under 18 | 19.5%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
13.5%±3.8Lowest VT: 17.9% |
22.4%±3.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Essex and Jericho are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.2%±4.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.4%±3.9Lowest VT: 21.4% |
19.9%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
| 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%Highest VT: 43.8% |
36.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
57.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
3.4%±1.9Highest VT: 7% |
2.8%±1.2 VT: 7% |
| Barre 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±$16kHighest 44% above VT |
$65,625±$7kLowest 19% below VT |
$110,199±$14k 36% 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 | $493,100±$38kHighest 56% above VT |
$210,400±$15kLowest 34% below VT |
$447,300±$14k 41% above VT |
| Jericho and Essex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,731±$111Highest 40% above VT |
$1,093±$58Lowest 11% below VT |
$1,569±$138 27% above VT |
| Jericho and Essex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,318Highest 45% above VT |
$5,192Lowest 3% above VT |
$6,602 31% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 79.3%±52.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
34.4%±10.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
45.9%±13.1 VT: 48.4% |
| Jericho and Essex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 0.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
17.3%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
50.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
75.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 7 yrs newer than VT |
1947Lowest 29 yrs older than VT |
1990Highest 14 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minHighest 10% above VT |
19 minLowest 21% below VT |
22 min 6% below VT |
| Work from home | 21.8%±6.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
10.5%±4.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
21.5%±5.8 VT: 16.9% |
| Jericho and Essex 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 | #19 of 70 in VT | #13 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 | Barre Unified Union School District #97 · Central Vermont Career Center | Essex Westford Educational Community Unified Union SD #51 |
| High school in town | Mt. Mansfield Union High School | Spaulding Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.0Highest |
10.7Lowest |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.