Compare towns
Williston vs Jericho vs Gorham vs Essex
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Jericho has the most homeowners (92.9%).
Gorham has the youngest population (median age 39.4).
Essex has the most kids (22.4% under 18).
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 | Jericho | Gorham | Essex |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,144 |
5,114Lowest |
18,300Highest |
11,516 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.4±4.5 17% above U.S. |
49.7±5.1Highest 28% above U.S. |
39.4±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
42.4±1.9 9% 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%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
19.5%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
22.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Essex and Gorham 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% |
20.2%±4.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.5%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.9%±3.3 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% |
65.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
57.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
13.1%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $106,967±$12kLowest 32% above U.S. |
$116,923±$16kHighest 45% above U.S. |
$112,312±$6k 39% above U.S. |
$110,199±$14k 36% above U.S. |
| Jericho and Gorham 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. |
$493,100±$38kHighest 48% above U.S. |
$460,900±$26k 39% above U.S. |
$447,300±$14kLowest 34% 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. |
$1,731±$111 23% above U.S. |
$1,680±$355 19% above U.S. |
$1,569±$138Lowest 11% 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. |
$7,318Highest 135% above U.S. |
$4,825Lowest 55% above U.S. |
$6,602 112% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±17.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
79.3%±52.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.9%±8.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.9%±13.1 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% |
0.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1983Lowest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1990 10 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
22 min 17% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.3%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.8%±6.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.5%±5.8 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 | #6 of 70 in VT | #24 of 133 in ME | #13 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 | Gorham Public Schools | Essex Westford Educational Community Unified Union SD #51 |
| High school in town | None in town | Mt. Mansfield Union High School | Gorham High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.0Highest |
12.9Lowest |
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| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | 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.