Compare towns

Jericho vs Fairfax vs Putney vs Dorset

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).
Fairfax has grown the fastest since 2010 (+17%).
Putney has the most affordable homes ($300k median).
Dorset has the most expensive homes ($569k 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.

MeasureJerichoFairfaxPutneyDorset
People
Population
5,114
5,226Highest
2,622
2,092Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+1.9%
VT: +2.8%
+17%Highest
VT: +2.8%
-3.1%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
+5%
VT: +2.8%
Median age
49.7±5.1Highest
15% above VT
38.8±3.3
10% below VT
37.2±5.2Lowest
14% below VT
45.9±7.5
6% above VT
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%±4.2
VT: 17.9%
24%±5.3Highest
VT: 17.9%
15.4%±4.1Lowest
VT: 17.9%
24%±5.5Highest
VT: 17.9%
Age 65+
20.2%±4.4
VT: 21.4%
12.5%±4Lowest
VT: 21.4%
18.1%±3.8
VT: 21.4%
21.9%±4.5Highest
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%
49.5%
VT: 43.8%
48.6%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
72.1%Highest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.4%±1.6Lowest
VT: 7%
4.3%±2.6
VT: 7%
20.4%±3.4Highest
VT: 7%
2.8%±2.1
VT: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$116,923±$16k
44% above VT
$128,963±$29kHighest
59% above VT
$79,706±$18kLowest
about the VT average
$111,250±$40k
37% above 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±$38k
56% above VT
$378,200±$22k
19% above VT
$300,000±$44kLowest
5% below VT
$569,200±$57kHighest
80% 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
$1,080±$131
12% below VT
$508±$482Lowest
59% below VT
$1,420±$296
15% above VT
Jericho and Dorset 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
$5,497
9% above VT
$5,313Lowest
5% above VT
$7,489Highest
49% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
79.3%±52.9Highest
VT: 48.4%
43.3%±33.9Lowest
VT: 48.4%
54.2%±19.4
VT: 48.4%
74.4%±22.5
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%
5.1%
VT: 10.1%
16%Highest
VT: 10.1%
11.2%
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
92.9%Highest
VT: 73.2%
85.7%
VT: 73.2%
72.8%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
90.7%
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1983
7 yrs newer than VT
1994Highest
18 yrs newer than VT
1977
1 yr newer than VT
1972Lowest
4 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
26 min
10% above VT
31 minHighest
31% above VT
18 minLowest
24% below VT
22 min
8% below VT
Work from home
21.8%±6.4
VT: 16.9%
26.7%±7.6
VT: 16.9%
16.9%±6.5Lowest
VT: 16.9%
29.3%±7.5Highest
VT: 16.9%
Dorset and Fairfax 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 #32 of 70 in VT —
School district Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 Fairfax School District Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 Taconic and Green Regional School District #63
High school in town Mt. Mansfield Union High School Bellows Free Academy Middle/High School (Fairfax) None in town None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
13.0Highest
9.8Lowest
— —
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story None yet 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.