Compare towns
Waterville vs Jericho vs Johnson vs Benson
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Waterville has the oldest housing (typical home built 1972).
Jericho has the most expensive homes ($493k median).
Johnson has the youngest population (median age 30.9).
Benson has the oldest population (median age 51.9).
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 | Waterville | Jericho | Johnson | Benson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 680Lowest |
5,114Highest |
3,450 |
784 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+1.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+1.3% VT: +2.8% |
-7.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 49.1±8.2 14% above VT |
49.7±5.1 15% above VT |
30.9±6.5Lowest 28% below VT |
51.9±9.4Highest 20% above VT |
| Benson and Jericho are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.4%±8.2 VT: 17.9% |
19.5%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
22.7%±5Highest VT: 17.9% |
16.5%±5.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Johnson and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 14.4%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
20.2%±4.4 VT: 21.4% |
10.8%±3.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
26.9%±4.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Benson and Jericho are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
65.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
32.2% VT: 43.8% |
32.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±3.3 VT: 7% |
2.4%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
14.4%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
7%±5.8 VT: 7% |
| Johnson and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $71,250±$27k 12% below VT |
$116,923±$16kHighest 44% above VT |
$55,346±$14kLowest 32% below VT |
$78,625±$8k 3% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $236,300±$15k 25% below VT |
$493,100±$38kHighest 56% above VT |
$169,400±$62kLowest 46% below VT |
$242,000±$26k 24% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,110±$93 10% below VT |
$1,731±$111Highest 40% above VT |
$948±$45Lowest 23% below VT |
$1,113±$170 10% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,957 21% below VT |
$7,318Highest 45% above VT |
$3,310Lowest 34% below VT |
$4,125 18% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±27.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
79.3%±52.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
51.6%±20.8 VT: 48.4% |
53.4%±35.2 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 | 4.9% VT: 10.1% |
0.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
12.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.4% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9% VT: 73.2% |
92.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
58.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
80.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 38 minHighest 60% above VT |
26 minLowest 10% above VT |
33 min 42% above VT |
32 min 35% above VT |
| Work from home | 8.5%±3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
21.8%±6.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
8.8%±4.6 VT: 16.9% |
18.6%±5.4 VT: 16.9% |
| Jericho and Benson 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 | #57 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 |
| High school in town | None in town | Mt. Mansfield Union High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.0 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 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.