Compare towns

Jericho vs Williston vs Exeter 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 most homeowners (92.9%).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Exeter has the most renters (30.9% rent).
Essex has the most kids (22.4% under 18).

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.

MeasureJerichoWillistonExeterEssex
People
Population
5,114Lowest
10,144
16,151Highest
11,516
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+1.9%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+16.2%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+12.2%
U.S.: +7.4%
+12.8%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
49.7±5.1Highest
28% above U.S.
45.4±4.5
17% above U.S.
45.8±2.3
18% above U.S.
42.4±1.9Lowest
9% above U.S.
Jericho and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
19.5%±4.2
U.S.: 22%
20.5%±5.2
U.S.: 22%
17%±2.7Lowest
U.S.: 22%
22.4%±3.3Highest
U.S.: 22%
Essex and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
20.2%±4.4
U.S.: 17.2%
21%±3.5
U.S.: 17.2%
24.4%±2.8Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
19.9%±3.3Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Exeter and Williston 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%
54.9%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
59.2%
U.S.: 35.7%
57.6%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.4%±1.6Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.7%±2.7
U.S.: 6.4%
6.1%±1.8Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.8%±1.2
U.S.: 6.4%
Exeter and Williston 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
45% above U.S.
$106,967±$12kLowest
32% above U.S.
$110,346±$13k
37% above U.S.
$110,199±$14k
36% above U.S.
Jericho and Exeter 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.
$475,800±$40k
43% above U.S.
$456,600±$21k
37% above U.S.
$447,300±$14kLowest
34% above U.S.
Jericho and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,731±$111
23% above U.S.
$1,832±$130
30% above U.S.
$1,856±$223Highest
31% above U.S.
$1,569±$138Lowest
11% above U.S.
Exeter and Williston 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.
$5,592Lowest
79% above U.S.
$8,814Highest
183% above U.S.
$6,602
112% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
79.3%±52.9Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
46.9%±17.4
U.S.: 51.1%
59%±11.3
U.S.: 51.1%
45.9%±13.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Jericho and Exeter 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%
4.3%
U.S.: 12.5%
4.7%
U.S.: 12.5%
5%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
92.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
75.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
69.1%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
75.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1983
3 yrs newer than U.S.
1993Highest
13 yrs newer than U.S.
1979Lowest
1 yr older than U.S.
1990
10 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
26 minHighest
about the U.S. average
20 minLowest
25% below U.S.
25 min
6% below U.S.
22 min
17% below U.S.
Work from home
21.8%±6.4
U.S.: 15.1%
22.3%±7.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
19.9%±3.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
21.5%±5.8
U.S.: 15.1%
Williston 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 #11 of 70 in VT #22 of 120 in NH #13 of 70 in VT
School district Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District Essex Westford Educational Community Unified Union SD #51
High school in town Mt. Mansfield Union High School None in town Exeter High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
13.0Highest
—
12.1Lowest
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On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet None yet 59 photos → 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.