Compare towns
Williston vs Mount Desert 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Mount Desert has the oldest population (median age 54.9).
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 | Mount Desert | Jericho |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,144Highest |
1,671Lowest |
5,114 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.4±4.5Lowest 17% above U.S. |
54.9±8.2Highest 41% above U.S. |
49.7±5.1 28% above U.S. |
| Mount Desert and Jericho 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% |
14.1%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.5%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Williston and Jericho are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
29.1%±4.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.2%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Mount Desert 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
64.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
65.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±4.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Williston and Mount Desert 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. |
$92,813±$9kLowest 15% 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±$40kLowest 43% above U.S. |
$522,100±$66kHighest 57% above U.S. |
$493,100±$38k 48% above U.S. |
| Mount Desert 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 30% above U.S. |
$1,341±$89Lowest 5% below U.S. |
$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. |
$3,512Lowest 13% above U.S. |
$7,318Highest 135% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±17.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
33.9%±31.5Lowest 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% |
7.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
0.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 25% below U.S. |
18 minLowest 32% below U.S. |
26 minHighest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 22.3%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.1%±9.8Lowest 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 | — | #6 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Mount Desert Public Schools | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Mt. Mansfield Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 13.0 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.