Compare towns
Reading vs Jericho vs Essex
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Reading has the most affordable homes ($377k median).
Jericho has the most expensive homes ($493k median).
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 | Reading | Jericho | Essex |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 699Lowest |
5,114 |
11,516Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2% VT: +2.8% |
+1.9%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+12.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.1±7.6Highest 19% above VT |
49.7±5.1 15% above VT |
42.4±1.9Lowest about the VT average |
| Reading and Jericho are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.5%±4.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
19.5%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
22.4%±3.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Essex and Jericho are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 28.2%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.2%±4.4 VT: 21.4% |
19.9%±3.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
65.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
57.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±2.5Highest VT: 7% |
2.4%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
2.8%±1.2 VT: 7% |
| Reading and Essex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $85,000±$19kLowest 5% above VT |
$116,923±$16kHighest 44% above VT |
$110,199±$14k 36% above VT |
| Jericho and Essex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $377,200±$72kLowest 19% above VT |
$493,100±$38kHighest 56% above VT |
$447,300±$14k 41% above VT |
| Jericho and Essex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,100±$331Lowest 11% below VT |
$1,731±$111Highest 40% 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 | $5,754Lowest 14% above VT |
$7,318Highest 45% above VT |
$6,602 31% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.3%±31.7 VT: 48.4% |
79.3%±52.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
45.9%±13.1Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Jericho and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
0.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
5% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9% VT: 73.2% |
92.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
75.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Lowest 7 yrs older than VT |
1983 7 yrs newer than VT |
1990Highest 14 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 41% above VT |
26 min 10% above VT |
22 minLowest 6% below VT |
| Work from home | 22.9%±10.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
21.8%±6.4 VT: 16.9% |
21.5%±5.8Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Reading 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 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 | Essex Westford Educational Community Unified Union SD #51 |
| High school in town | None in town | Mt. Mansfield Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.0 |
— |
| 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.