Compare towns

Jericho vs Plainfield 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 oldest population (median age 49.7).
Plainfield has the youngest population (median age 38.9).
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.

MeasureJerichoPlainfieldEssex
People
Population
5,114
2,522Lowest
11,516Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+1.9%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+4%
U.S.: +7.4%
+12.8%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
49.7±5.1Highest
28% above U.S.
38.9±6.5Lowest
about the U.S. average
42.4±1.9
9% above U.S.
Kids under 18
19.5%±4.2Lowest
U.S.: 22%
23.4%±5.8Highest
U.S.: 22%
22.4%±3.3
U.S.: 22%
Plainfield 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%
19.8%±4.5Lowest
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%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
46.7%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
57.6%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.4%±1.6Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.8%±2.3Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.8%±1.2
U.S.: 6.4%
Plainfield 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.
$122,656±$13kHighest
52% above U.S.
$110,199±$14kLowest
36% above U.S.
Plainfield 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
48% above U.S.
$442,400±$47kLowest
33% above U.S.
$447,300±$14k
34% above U.S.
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
23% above U.S.
$1,674±$181
18% above U.S.
$1,569±$138Lowest
11% above U.S.
Jericho and Plainfield 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.
$7,904Highest
153% above U.S.
$6,602Lowest
112% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
79.3%±52.9Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
31.8%±23.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
45.9%±13.1
U.S.: 51.1%
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
U.S.: 12.5%
5.2%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
5%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
92.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
87.3%
U.S.: 65.2%
75.9%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1983
3 yrs newer than U.S.
1977Lowest
3 yrs older than U.S.
1990Highest
10 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
26 minHighest
about the U.S. average
22 minLowest
17% below U.S.
22 minLowest
17% below U.S.
Work from home
21.8%±6.4Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
18.1%±8.5Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
21.5%±5.8
U.S.: 15.1%
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 120 in NH #13 of 70 in VT
School district Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 Plainfield School District 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
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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.