Compare towns
Underhill vs Benson vs Ira vs Jericho
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Underhill has the most kids (27.8% under 18).
Benson has the most affordable homes ($242k median).
Ira has the oldest population (median age 54.1).
Jericho has the highest household income ($117k).
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 | Underhill | Benson | Ira | Jericho |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,141 |
784 |
381Lowest |
5,114Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-7.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— | +1.9% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 38.1±11.4Lowest 12% below VT |
51.9±9.4 20% above VT |
54.1±5.5Highest 26% above VT |
49.7±5.1 15% above VT |
| Ira and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 27.8%±10.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
16.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
10.5%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
19.5%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Underhill and Jericho are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.6%±6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
26.9%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
28.9%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.2%±4.4 VT: 21.4% |
| Ira and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 50.1% VT: 43.8% |
32.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
37.1% VT: 43.8% |
65.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±2 VT: 7% |
7%±5.8Highest VT: 7% |
3.4%±3.5 VT: 7% |
2.4%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
| Benson and Underhill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $92,267±$54k 14% above VT |
$78,625±$8k 3% below VT |
$71,827±$5kLowest 12% below VT |
$116,923±$16kHighest 44% above VT |
| Jericho and Underhill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $446,000±$24k 41% above VT |
$242,000±$26kLowest 24% below VT |
$272,900±$18k 14% below VT |
$493,100±$38kHighest 56% above VT |
| Jericho and Underhill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,113±$170 10% below VT |
$942±$52Lowest 24% below VT |
$1,731±$111Highest 40% above VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,697 33% above VT |
$4,125Lowest 18% below VT |
$4,146 18% below VT |
$7,318Highest 45% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±18.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
53.4%±35.2 VT: 48.4% |
36.4%±100 VT: 48.4% |
79.3%±52.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Jericho and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.4% VT: 10.1% |
5.4% VT: 10.1% |
14.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
0.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
80.9% VT: 73.2% |
90.7% VT: 73.2% |
92.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1975Lowest 1 yr older than VT |
1975Lowest 1 yr older than VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 39% above VT |
32 min 35% above VT |
28 min 20% above VT |
26 minLowest 10% above VT |
| Work from home | 19.4%±11.3 VT: 16.9% |
18.6%±5.4 VT: 16.9% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
21.8%±6.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Jericho and Underhill 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 | #2 of 70 in VT | — | — | #6 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | — | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — | Mt. Mansfield Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 13.0 |
| 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.