Compare towns
Athens vs Chittenden vs Cornwall
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).
Chittenden has the oldest population (median age 50.8).
Cornwall has the most kids (18.7% 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 | Chittenden | Cornwall |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 431Lowest |
1,318Highest |
1,208 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -1.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+1.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.3±6.5Lowest 10% above VT |
50.8±6.3Highest 18% above VT |
50.4±4.6 17% above VT |
| Chittenden and Cornwall 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% |
13.8%±2.5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.7%±3Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Cornwall 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% |
21.8%±4 VT: 21.4% |
25.7%±6.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Cornwall and Chittenden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
51.5% VT: 43.8% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±3Highest VT: 7% |
3.8%±1.6 VT: 7% |
3.7%±3.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Athens and Chittenden 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 |
$106,250±$28k 31% above VT |
$114,583±$32kHighest 41% above VT |
| Cornwall and Chittenden 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 |
$346,800±$35k 10% above VT |
$458,000±$49kHighest 45% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$537 9% below VT |
$1,125±$488 9% below VT |
$1,125±$206 9% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,438 8% above VT |
$5,346Lowest 6% above VT |
$6,726Highest 33% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.5%±39 VT: 48.4% |
14.8%±55.7Lowest VT: 48.4% |
61.9%±65.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Cornwall 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% |
6.6% VT: 10.1% |
0.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
93.5% VT: 73.2% |
94.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1976 same as VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 53% above VT |
28 min 21% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
| Work from home | 19.3%±7.5 VT: 16.9% |
15%±3.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
24.4%±6.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Cornwall and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | Barstow Unified Union School District #49 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 |
| High school in town | — | None 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.