Compare towns
Worcester vs Essex vs Jericho vs Middlesex
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Worcester has the most affordable homes ($271k median).
Essex has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.8%).
Jericho has the most expensive homes ($493k median).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
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 | Worcester | Essex | Jericho | Middlesex |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 831Lowest |
11,516Highest |
5,114 |
1,943 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+12.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+1.9% VT: +2.8% |
+2.8% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47±2.7 9% above VT |
42.4±1.9Lowest about the VT average |
49.7±5.1Highest 15% above VT |
44.4±3.9 3% above VT |
| Jericho and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 12.8%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
22.4%±3.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
19.5%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.1 VT: 17.9% |
| Essex and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.5%±2.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
19.9%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
20.2%±4.4 VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±3.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Middlesex and Jericho are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 53%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
57.6% VT: 43.8% |
65.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
54.7% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.9%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
2.8%±1.2 VT: 7% |
2.4%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6 VT: 7% |
| Worcester and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,833±$18kLowest 9% below VT |
$110,199±$14k 36% above VT |
$116,923±$16kHighest 44% above VT |
$109,632±$13k 35% above VT |
| Jericho and Essex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $271,100±$27kLowest 14% below VT |
$447,300±$14k 41% above VT |
$493,100±$38kHighest 56% above VT |
$376,300±$40k 19% above VT |
| Jericho and Essex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,023±$136Lowest 17% below VT |
$1,569±$138 27% above VT |
$1,731±$111Highest 40% above VT |
$1,333±$359 8% above VT |
| Jericho and Essex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,421Lowest 12% below VT |
$6,602 31% above VT |
$7,318Highest 45% above VT |
$6,483 29% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25.5%±37 VT: 48.4% |
45.9%±13.1 VT: 48.4% |
79.3%±52.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Jericho and Essex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5% VT: 10.1% |
0.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
3.8% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.9% VT: 73.2% |
75.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.9% VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest same as VT |
1990Highest 14 yrs newer than VT |
1983 7 yrs newer than VT |
1986 10 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 22% above VT |
22 minLowest 6% below VT |
26 min 10% above VT |
27 min 17% above VT |
| Work from home | 23.6%±4.8 VT: 16.9% |
21.5%±5.8Lowest VT: 16.9% |
21.8%±6.4 VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Middlesex and Worcester 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 | — | #13 of 70 in VT | #6 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Essex Westford Educational Community Unified Union SD #51 | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Mt. Mansfield Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 13.0 |
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| 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.