Compare towns
Athens vs Braintree vs Vershire
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).
Braintree has the oldest population (median age 58.4).
Vershire has the most kids (19.1% under 18).
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 | Braintree | Vershire |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 431Lowest |
1,026Highest |
842 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -3.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-7.9%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.3±6.5 10% above VT |
58.4±2.4Highest 35% above VT |
45.7±9.3Lowest 6% above VT |
| Kids under 18 | 13.9%±6.5 VT: 17.9% |
12.3%±3.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
19.1%±4.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Vershire and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.6%±4.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
33.2%±3.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
22.2%±5 VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
30.9% VT: 43.8% |
31.8%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±3 VT: 7% |
1.8%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
| Vershire 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±$30kLowest 16% below VT |
$79,803±$5kHighest about the VT average |
$71,618±$12k 12% below VT |
| Braintree and Vershire 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 |
$217,700±$28k 31% below VT |
$209,100±$55kLowest 34% below VT |
| Athens and Braintree are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$537Highest 9% below VT |
$840±$405Lowest 32% below VT |
$1,117±$80 9% below VT |
| Athens and Vershire 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 |
$3,908Lowest 22% below VT |
$4,640 8% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.5%±39 VT: 48.4% |
43.4%±29.4Lowest VT: 48.4% |
77.8%±24.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Vershire 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% |
11.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
19.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
81% VT: 73.2% |
81.5%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1985Highest 9 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 53% above VT |
26 minLowest 11% above VT |
32 min 38% above VT |
| Work from home | 19.3%±7.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
19%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
12.3%±4.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Athens and Braintree are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | — |
| 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.