Compare towns
Jericho vs Dorset 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 oldest population (median age 49.7).
Dorset has the most people working from home (29.3%).
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 | Dorset | Essex |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,114 |
2,092Lowest |
11,516Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5% VT: +2.8% |
+12.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 49.7±5.1Highest 15% above VT |
45.9±7.5 6% above VT |
42.4±1.9Lowest about the VT average |
| 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 VT: 17.9% |
24%±5.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
22.4%±3.3 VT: 17.9% |
| Dorset and Essex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.2%±4.4 VT: 21.4% |
21.9%±4.5Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.9%±3.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| 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% VT: 43.8% |
72.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
57.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
2.8%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
2.8%±1.2Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $116,923±$16kHighest 44% above VT |
$111,250±$40k 37% above VT |
$110,199±$14kLowest 36% above VT |
| Jericho and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $493,100±$38k 56% above VT |
$569,200±$57kHighest 80% above VT |
$447,300±$14kLowest 41% above VT |
| Dorset and Jericho 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 |
$1,420±$296Lowest 15% above 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 | $7,318 45% above VT |
$7,489Highest 49% above VT |
$6,602Lowest 31% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 79.3%±52.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
74.4%±22.5 VT: 48.4% |
45.9%±13.1Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| 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 VT: 10.1% |
11.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
90.7% VT: 73.2% |
75.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 7 yrs newer than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1990Highest 14 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minHighest 10% above VT |
22 minLowest 8% below VT |
22 min 6% below VT |
| Work from home | 21.8%±6.4 VT: 16.9% |
29.3%±7.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
21.5%±5.8Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Dorset 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 | — | #13 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | Essex Westford Educational Community Unified Union SD #51 |
| High school in town | Mt. Mansfield Union High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.0 |
— | — |
| 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.