Compare towns
Williston vs Ayer vs Jericho
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Williston has the shortest commute (20 min average).
Ayer has the youngest population (median age 39.2).
Jericho has the most homeowners (92.9%).
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 | Williston | Ayer | Jericho |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,144Highest |
8,645 |
5,114Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+14.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.4±4.5 17% above U.S. |
39.2±2.8Lowest about the U.S. average |
49.7±5.1Highest 28% above U.S. |
| Jericho and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.5%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.3%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
19.5%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Williston and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21%±3.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.2%±4.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Williston and Jericho are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
42.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
65.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Williston and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $106,967±$12k 32% above U.S. |
$101,875±$15kLowest 26% above U.S. |
$116,923±$16kHighest 45% above U.S. |
| Jericho and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $475,800±$40k 43% above U.S. |
$463,800±$29kLowest 39% above U.S. |
$493,100±$38kHighest 48% 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 | $1,832±$130Highest 30% above U.S. |
$1,415±$180Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,731±$111 23% above U.S. |
| Williston and Jericho are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,592 79% above U.S. |
$5,057Lowest 62% above U.S. |
$7,318Highest 135% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±17.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
45.1%±14.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
79.3%±52.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Jericho and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
0.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 22.3%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.6%±5.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.8%±6.4 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 | #11 of 70 in VT | #113 of 282 in MA | #6 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Ayer Shirley School District | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 |
| High school in town | None in town | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | Mt. Mansfield Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.5Lowest |
13.0Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 12 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.