Compare towns

Athens vs Barnard vs Readsboro

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Athens has the most renters (26.3% rent).
Barnard has the most kids (26.9% under 18).
Readsboro has the most affordable homes ($216k median).

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.

MeasureAthensBarnardReadsboro
People
Population
431Lowest
1,211Highest
807
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
+4.8%Highest
VT: +2.8%
-8%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
47.3±6.5
10% above VT
42.4±6Lowest
about the VT average
50.7±3.9Highest
18% above VT
Readsboro and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
13.9%±6.5
VT: 17.9%
26.9%±5.3Highest
VT: 17.9%
6.9%±2.6Lowest
VT: 17.9%
Age 65+
21.6%±4.6
VT: 21.4%
22%±3.6Highest
VT: 21.4%
20.6%±4.4Lowest
VT: 21.4%
Barnard and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
30.3%
VT: 43.8%
55.3%Highest
VT: 43.8%
26.7%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.9%±3Highest
VT: 7%
2.4%±1.8Lowest
VT: 7%
3.3%±1.8
VT: 7%
Athens and Readsboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$68,438±$30k
16% below VT
$97,581±$19kHighest
20% above VT
$55,268±$12kLowest
32% below VT
Barnard and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$240,400±$32k
24% below VT
$402,600±$71kHighest
27% above VT
$215,500±$52kLowest
32% below VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,125±$537
9% below VT
$1,372±$80Highest
11% above VT
$724±$32Lowest
41% below VT
Barnard and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,438
8% above VT
$6,038Highest
20% above VT
$3,480Lowest
31% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
43.5%±39Highest
VT: 48.4%
27%±19.8
VT: 48.4%
17.4%±24.3Lowest
VT: 48.4%
Athens and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
12.1%Highest
VT: 10.1%
2.6%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
7.3%
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
73.7%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
85.4%Highest
VT: 73.2%
76.4%
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1973Highest
3 yrs older than VT
1971Lowest
5 yrs older than VT
1972
4 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
36 minHighest
53% above VT
29 minLowest
21% above VT
32 min
35% above VT
Work from home
19.3%±7.5Highest
VT: 16.9%
19.3%±10.8Highest
VT: 16.9%
7.8%±3.1Lowest
VT: 16.9%
Schools
School district — Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 Readsboro School District
High school in town — None in town None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.