Janine F. reports in this review:
Weather | | How much crime? | | What are the neighborhoods like? | | What are the people like? |
Jericho is a foothill of Mount Mansfield in northwestern Vermont, making winters especially cold and snowy. It's not uncommon for driveways to be mistaken for roads, making Four- or All-Wheel Drive a necessity for most residents. As with most of Vermont the thaw leads to "mud season", that temperate by messy period that typically precedes spring. Spring itself is often short, but commonly leads to a lush, hot and humid summer. The dense forests are equally impressive in fall, when temperatures cool down and the foliage Vermont is famous for begins to burst. | | There was a recent string of car burglaries, usually stealing things from unlocked cars in people's driveways, and a neighbor's home was once broken into. Hunters trespassing on private residential property are an occasional issue. | | Jericho is largely rural, and is not known to have "parts of town." There are several housing developments that are clearly upper-middle class, many of which were built between the 1980s and today. The homes build independent of these developments are typically anywhere from 30-100 years old, with the distribution of demographics being pretty varied amongst them in terms of economic status. As with many Vermont towns the residents are primarily white, though the diversity has improved over the years. | | Jericho is home to many families, young professional couples and multi-generation Vermonters. Although within driving distance of larger towns and Downtown Burlington, it maintains a small-town feel and can be suffocating for teenagers and twentysomethings. It is a great place for nature enthusiasts and outdoor types, but it is not uncommon to see a variety of "types" from hippies to yuppies and everything in between. |
Downtown Area | | Restaurants | | Schools | | Single life |
There is no real "downtown" to Jericho - area businesses include private services such as cloth mending, Christmas tree farms and sugar shacks, an auto detailing business, one major gas station and a few small general stores that also sell gas. | | Jericho's restaurant offerings are few and far between. The Jericho Tavern (formerly Fields and the Village Cup prior to that) has earned a positive reputation as both a cafe and upper-scale restaurant. Mountain High Pizza Pie has been a town staple for many years and Joe's Snack Bar, while not a restaurant, is a seasonal treat not to be missed. | | Jericho boasts excellent public schools with a high graduation rate from Mt. Mansfield Union Memorial High School. MMU brings together students from Underhill, Jericho, Richmond, Bolton and Huntington and offers many enrichment opportunities from competitive athletics to theater and science clubs. | | Jericho isn't exactly known for it's swinging singles scene - though there are many opportunities for romantic outdoor excursions, you might have more luck finding that date in Burlington. |
Noise | | town comparison vs. | | Best hospital | | Tourist attractions |
Jericho is home to an artillery range which is audible from various parts of the town. The way sound travels in the woods is especially impressive - you may be miles away from Route 15 and still hear the passing of tractor-trailers echoing during the night. | | Jericho's border towns include Essex, Underhill and Richmond. While Essex is more of a traditional suburban town, Underhill and Richmond are similar to Jericho in their rural small-town similarities; local familiy-run businesses, farmland, antique houses and modern housing developments. The part of Jericho that borders Richmond is closer to the entrance to the Interstate, whereas the Underhill-adjacent area is farther away from many conveniences. The major grocery stores are all located in Essex, which is a 10-20 minute drive away depending on what part of town you're leaving from. Those who like to be closer to general needs like groceries, pharmacies and fast-food would prefer Essex over Jericho. | | The nearest hospital is Fletcher Allen Health Care in Burlington. It is a clean facility and most staff members demonstrate good bedside manner, but making an appointment as a new patient can take a frustrating length of time, and it is not uncommon for communication issues to arise when dealing with multiple members of the healthcare staff in one visit. | | Mills Park and the Red Mill park are beautiful areas for nature walks, cross country skiing and playing in Brown's River. |
General comments | | | | | | |
Jericho is quite charming and quaint, with panoramic view of Mount Mansfield, a number of nature trails and public parks, and beloved local establishments like Joe's Snack Bar and the Red Mill Museum. It especially captures the classic New England small town feel in autumn with events like the annual Harvest Market and illuminated pumpkin walk on Ciley Hill Road. | | | | | | |