Compare towns

Jericho vs Fairfax vs Northfield

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 expensive homes ($493k median).
Fairfax has grown the fastest since 2010 (+17%).
Northfield has the most affordable homes ($274k 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.

MeasureJerichoFairfaxNorthfield
People
Population
5,114Lowest
5,226
5,920Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+1.9%
VT: +2.8%
+17%Highest
VT: +2.8%
-4.7%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
49.7±5.1Highest
15% above VT
38.8±3.3
10% below VT
36.4±4.1Lowest
16% below VT
Kids under 18
19.5%±4.2
VT: 17.9%
24%±5.3Highest
VT: 17.9%
14.6%±3.7Lowest
VT: 17.9%
Fairfax 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%
12.5%±4Lowest
VT: 21.4%
20%±3.8
VT: 21.4%
Jericho and Northfield 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%
49.5%
VT: 43.8%
34.6%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.4%±1.6Lowest
VT: 7%
4.3%±2.6
VT: 7%
15.1%±2.1Highest
VT: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$116,923±$16k
44% above VT
$128,963±$29kHighest
59% above VT
$71,768±$13kLowest
12% below VT
Fairfax and Jericho 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
$378,200±$22k
19% above VT
$274,400±$21kLowest
13% below VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,731±$111Highest
40% above VT
$1,080±$131
12% below VT
$1,018±$207Lowest
18% below VT
Property taxmedian, yearly
$7,318Highest
45% above VT
$5,497
9% above VT
$4,878Lowest
3% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
79.3%±52.9Highest
VT: 48.4%
43.3%±33.9Lowest
VT: 48.4%
63.3%±17.7
VT: 48.4%
Jericho and Northfield 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%
5.1%
VT: 10.1%
12.5%Highest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
92.9%Highest
VT: 73.2%
85.7%
VT: 73.2%
73.5%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1983
7 yrs newer than VT
1994Highest
18 yrs newer than VT
1956Lowest
20 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
26 minLowest
10% above VT
31 minHighest
31% above VT
27 min
16% above VT
Work from home
21.8%±6.4
VT: 16.9%
26.7%±7.6Highest
VT: 16.9%
12.1%±4.3Lowest
VT: 16.9%
Fairfax 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 #36 of 70 in VT #42 of 70 in VT
School district Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 Fairfax School District Paine Mountain Union School District #68
High school in town Mt. Mansfield Union High School Bellows Free Academy Middle/High School (Fairfax) Northfield Middle/High School
Students per teacherat that high school
13.0Highest
9.8Lowest
10.0
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.