Compare towns
Athens vs Barton vs Orleans
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 expensive homes ($240k median).
Barton has the most kids (24.1% under 18).
Orleans has the oldest housing (typical home built 1938).
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 | Athens | Barton | Orleans |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 431Lowest |
730 |
809Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -6.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-3.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.3±6.5Highest 10% above VT |
40±5.5Lowest 7% below VT |
41.7±5.8 3% below VT |
| Athens and Orleans are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.9%±6.5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
24.1%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
17.9%±4.5 VT: 17.9% |
| Barton and Orleans are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.6%±4.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.2%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
19.7%±3.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Athens and Barton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
21.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
24.8% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±3Highest VT: 7% |
1.9%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
3.7%±2.1 VT: 7% |
| Athens and Orleans are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $68,438±$30kHighest 16% below VT |
$40,833±$8kLowest 50% below VT |
$57,159±$10k 30% below VT |
| Athens and Orleans are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $240,400±$32kHighest 24% below VT |
$146,900±$30kLowest 54% below VT |
$156,300±$18k 51% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$537Highest 9% below VT |
$761±$150Lowest 38% below VT |
$810±$94 34% below VT |
| Athens and Orleans are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,438Highest 8% above VT |
$3,185 37% below VT |
$3,019Lowest 40% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.5%±39 VT: 48.4% |
58.8%±18.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
27.3%±17.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Barton and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 12.1% VT: 10.1% |
25.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
52.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
64.1% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Highest 3 yrs older than VT |
1945 31 yrs older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 53% above VT |
31 minLowest 32% above VT |
31 min 33% above VT |
| Work from home | 19.3%±7.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.5%±10.4 VT: 16.9% |
8.3%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Athens and Barton 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 | — | #38 of 70 in VT | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.