Compare towns
Athens vs Cavendish 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 most affordable homes ($240k median).
Cavendish has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Whiting has the most kids (23.5% 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 | Cavendish | Whiting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 431Lowest |
1,242Highest |
532 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +1.8% VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 47.3±6.5Highest 10% above VT |
45.2±5.9 5% above VT |
39.6±2.7Lowest 8% below VT |
| Athens and Cavendish 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% |
18.3%±4.8 VT: 17.9% |
23.5%±6.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Whiting and Cavendish 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% |
23.6%±2Highest VT: 21.4% |
13%±5.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Cavendish 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% |
39.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
25.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±3 VT: 7% |
4.3%±1.9Lowest 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±$30kLowest 16% below VT |
$89,063±$29k 10% above VT |
$91,250±$38kHighest 12% above VT |
| Whiting and Cavendish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $240,400±$32kLowest 24% below VT |
$285,100±$40kHighest 10% below VT |
$280,400±$36k 11% below VT |
| Cavendish and Whiting 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 |
$1,000±$546Lowest 19% 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 |
$3,948Lowest 22% below VT |
$4,227 16% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.5%±39 VT: 48.4% |
28.9%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
58.3%±37.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Whiting and Athens 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% |
6.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
11.5% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.7% VT: 73.2% |
81.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
65.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1968Lowest 8 yrs older than VT |
1975Highest 1 yr older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 53% above VT |
19 minLowest 21% below VT |
22 min 7% below VT |
| Work from home | 19.3%±7.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
18.5%±6.6 VT: 16.9% |
10%±5.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Athens and Cavendish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 18 photos → | 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.