What stands out worked out from the figures below

Athens has the oldest population (median age 47.7).

Palmyra has grown the fastest since 2010 (-3.1%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Athens	Palmyra
People
Population	791Lowest	2,209Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-6.6%Lowest ME: +2.6%	-3.1%Highest ME: +2.6%
Median age	47.7±7.2Highest 6% above ME	37.1±4.8Lowest 17% below ME
	Athens and Palmyra are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21.7%±5Lowest ME: 18.1%	29.2%±5.8Highest ME: 18.1%
	Palmyra and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	24.4%±2.7Highest ME: 22.4%	16.7%±5.3Lowest ME: 22.4%
	Athens and Palmyra are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	17.7%Highest ME: 36.2%	13.8%Lowest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.5%±2.5Lowest ME: 5.8%	4%±2.4Highest ME: 5.8%
	Palmyra and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$50,750±$14kLowest 32% below ME	$60,543±$17kHighest 19% below ME
	Palmyra and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$153,100±$33kLowest 48% below ME	$154,900±$34kHighest 48% below ME
	Palmyra and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$538±$457Lowest 53% below ME	$733±$119Highest 36% below ME
	Palmyra and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$1,355Lowest 55% below ME	$1,614Highest 47% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	100%±75.5Highest ME: 48.4%	47.2%±14.9Lowest ME: 48.4%
	Athens and Palmyra are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	23.3%Highest ME: 10.7%	9.1%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	94.6%Highest ME: 74.3%	82.6%Lowest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1985Lowest 8 yrs newer than ME	1994Highest 17 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minHighest 18% above ME	21 minLowest 14% below ME
Work from home	6.1%±4.1Lowest ME: 15.9%	7.5%±4.1Highest ME: 15.9%
	Palmyra and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Athens Public Schools	—
High school in town	None in town	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

ME 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.