Compare towns
Athens vs Braintree vs Whiting vs Waterville
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 people working from home (19.3%).
Braintree has the oldest population (median age 58.4).
Whiting has the most expensive homes ($280k median).
Waterville has the oldest housing (typical home built 1972).
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 | Whiting | Waterville |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 431Lowest |
1,026Highest |
532 |
680 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -3.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— | +1.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.3±6.5 10% above VT |
58.4±2.4Highest 35% above VT |
39.6±2.7Lowest 8% below VT |
49.1±8.2 14% above VT |
| Braintree and Waterville 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% |
12.3%±3.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23.5%±6.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
20.4%±8.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Whiting and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.6%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
33.2%±3.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
13%±5.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
14.4%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.3% VT: 43.8% |
30.9% VT: 43.8% |
25.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
32.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±3 VT: 7% |
1.8%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
6.2%±4Highest VT: 7% |
5.3%±3.3 VT: 7% |
| Whiting and Waterville 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±$5k about the VT average |
$91,250±$38kHighest 12% above VT |
$71,250±$27k 12% below VT |
| Whiting and Braintree 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 |
$217,700±$28kLowest 31% below VT |
$280,400±$36kHighest 11% below VT |
$236,300±$15k 25% 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 |
$840±$405Lowest 32% below VT |
$1,204±$519Highest about the VT average |
$1,110±$93 10% below VT |
| 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 |
$3,908Lowest 22% below VT |
$4,227 16% below VT |
$3,957 21% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.5%±39 VT: 48.4% |
43.4%±29.4Lowest VT: 48.4% |
58.3%±37.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±27.2 VT: 48.4% |
| Whiting and Waterville 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% |
11.1% VT: 10.1% |
11.5% VT: 10.1% |
4.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.7% VT: 73.2% |
81%Highest VT: 73.2% |
65.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
79.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 min 53% above VT |
26 min 11% above VT |
22 minLowest 7% below VT |
38 minHighest 60% above VT |
| Work from home | 19.3%±7.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
19%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
10%±5.4 VT: 16.9% |
8.5%±3Lowest 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 | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.