Compare towns
Williston vs Fairfax vs Jericho vs Stowe
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Williston has the most renters (24.9% rent).
Fairfax has the most affordable homes ($378k median).
Jericho has the most homeowners (92.9%).
Stowe has the most expensive homes ($648k median).
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 | Fairfax | Jericho | Stowe |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,144Highest |
5,226 |
5,114Lowest |
5,285 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.2% VT: +2.8% |
+17% VT: +2.8% |
+1.9%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+21.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.4±4.5 5% above VT |
38.8±3.3Lowest 10% below VT |
49.7±5.1Highest 15% above VT |
46.3±7.6 7% above VT |
| Jericho and Stowe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
24%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
19.5%±4.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
22.5%±4.6 VT: 17.9% |
| Fairfax and Stowe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
12.5%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
20.2%±4.4 VT: 21.4% |
25.8%±6.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Stowe and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.9% VT: 43.8% |
49.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
65.3% VT: 43.8% |
66.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.7Highest VT: 7% |
4.3%±2.6 VT: 7% |
2.4%±1.6 VT: 7% |
1.6%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
| Williston and Fairfax 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 VT |
$128,963±$29kHighest 59% above VT |
$116,923±$16k 44% above VT |
$93,618±$33kLowest 15% 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 | $475,800±$40k 50% above VT |
$378,200±$22kLowest 19% above VT |
$493,100±$38k 56% above VT |
$647,800±$157kHighest 105% above VT |
| Stowe and Jericho are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
$1,080±$131Lowest 12% below VT |
$1,731±$111 40% above VT |
$1,458±$242 18% above VT |
| 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 11% above VT |
$5,497Lowest 9% above VT |
$7,318Highest 45% above VT |
$7,161 42% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±17.4 VT: 48.4% |
43.3%±33.9 VT: 48.4% |
79.3%±52.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
24.5%±15.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| 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% VT: 10.1% |
5.1% VT: 10.1% |
0.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
9.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
85.7% VT: 73.2% |
92.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
78.6% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1993 17 yrs newer than VT |
1994Highest 18 yrs newer than VT |
1983 7 yrs newer than VT |
1982Lowest 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 16% below VT |
31 minHighest 31% above VT |
26 min 10% above VT |
19 minLowest 18% below VT |
| Work from home | 22.3%±7.6 VT: 16.9% |
26.7%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
21.8%±6.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
24.4%±8.9 VT: 16.9% |
| Fairfax and Stowe 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 | #36 of 70 in VT | #6 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Fairfax School District | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 | Stowe Town School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Bellows Free Academy Middle/High School (Fairfax) | Mt. Mansfield Union High School | Stowe High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.8Lowest |
13.0Highest |
11.3 |
| 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.