Compare towns
Athens vs Barton vs Whiting
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 oldest population (median age 47.3).
Barton has the most affordable homes ($147k median).
Whiting has the highest household income ($91k).
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 | Whiting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 431Lowest |
730Highest |
532 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -6.4% VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 47.3±6.5Highest 10% above VT |
40±5.5 7% below VT |
39.6±2.7Lowest 8% below VT |
| Athens and Barton 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% |
23.5%±6.9 VT: 17.9% |
| Barton and Whiting 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% |
13%±5.1Lowest 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% |
25.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±3 VT: 7% |
1.9%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
6.2%±4Highest VT: 7% |
| Whiting and Athens 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 |
$40,833±$8kLowest 50% below VT |
$91,250±$38kHighest 12% above VT |
| Whiting 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 |
$146,900±$30kLowest 54% below VT |
$280,400±$36kHighest 11% below VT |
| Whiting and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$537 9% below VT |
$761±$150Lowest 38% below VT |
$1,204±$519Highest about the VT average |
| Whiting and Athens 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 |
$3,185Lowest 37% below VT |
$4,227 16% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.5%±39Lowest VT: 48.4% |
58.8%±18.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
58.3%±37.3 VT: 48.4% |
| Barton and Whiting 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% |
11.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
52.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
65.4% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1945Lowest 31 yrs older than VT |
1975Highest 1 yr older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 53% above VT |
31 min 32% above VT |
22 minLowest 7% below VT |
| Work from home | 19.3%±7.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.5%±10.4 VT: 16.9% |
10%±5.4Lowest 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 | — |
| School district | — | — | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 |
| High school 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.