Compare towns
Waterbury vs Jericho vs Fairfax
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Waterbury has the most renters (29.4% rent).
Jericho has the oldest population (median age 49.7).
Fairfax has grown the fastest since 2010 (+17%).
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 | Waterbury | Jericho | Fairfax |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,405Highest |
5,114Lowest |
5,226 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.3% VT: +2.8% |
+1.9%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+17%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 43.2±3.7 about the VT average |
49.7±5.1Highest 15% above VT |
38.8±3.3Lowest 10% below VT |
| Jericho and Waterbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.9%±4.9 VT: 17.9% |
19.5%±4.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
24%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Fairfax and Waterbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.8%±4.4 VT: 21.4% |
20.2%±4.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
12.5%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Jericho and Waterbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.2% VT: 43.8% |
65.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
49.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2.8 VT: 7% |
2.4%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
4.3%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
| Fairfax and Waterbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $103,917±$23kLowest 28% above VT |
$116,923±$16k 44% above VT |
$128,963±$29kHighest 59% 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 | $447,200±$40k 41% above VT |
$493,100±$38kHighest 56% above VT |
$378,200±$22kLowest 19% above VT |
| Jericho and Waterbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,027±$535Lowest 17% below VT |
$1,731±$111Highest 40% above VT |
$1,080±$131 12% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,435 28% above VT |
$7,318Highest 45% above VT |
$5,497Lowest 9% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.8%±21.7 VT: 48.4% |
79.3%±52.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
43.3%±33.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Jericho and Waterbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
0.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
5.1% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.6%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
85.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Lowest 7 yrs newer than VT |
1983Lowest 7 yrs newer than VT |
1994Highest 18 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 28% above VT |
26 minLowest 10% above VT |
31 minHighest 31% above VT |
| Work from home | 28.3%±6.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
21.8%±6.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
26.7%±7.6 VT: 16.9% |
| Waterbury 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 | #20 of 70 in VT | #6 of 70 in VT | #36 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Harwood Unified Union School District #60 | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 | Fairfax School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Mt. Mansfield Union High School | Bellows Free Academy Middle/High School (Fairfax) |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.0Highest |
9.8Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.