Compare towns
Athens vs Cornish vs Putney vs Waterville
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Athens has the most people working from home (19.3%).
Cornish has the most homeowners (94.1%).
Putney has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Waterville has the most kids (20.4% 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 | Cornish | Putney | Waterville |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 431Lowest |
1,816 |
2,622Highest |
680 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -1.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.3±6.5 22% above U.S. |
54±8.3Highest 39% above U.S. |
37.2±5.2Lowest 4% below U.S. |
49.1±8.2 26% above U.S. |
| Cornish and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 13.9%±6.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
14.4%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
15.4%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
20.4%±8.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Waterville and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.6%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.3%±4.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.1%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.4%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Cornish 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
48.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±3 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.4%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
20.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.3%±3.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $68,438±$30kLowest 15% below U.S. |
$91,821±$2kHighest 14% above U.S. |
$79,706±$18k about the U.S. average |
$71,250±$27k 12% below U.S. |
| Cornish and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $240,400±$32k 28% below U.S. |
$296,000±$69k 11% below U.S. |
$300,000±$44kHighest 10% below U.S. |
$236,300±$15kLowest 29% below U.S. |
| Putney and Cornish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$537 20% below U.S. |
$1,221±$227Highest 14% below U.S. |
$508±$482Lowest 64% below U.S. |
$1,110±$93 21% below U.S. |
| Cornish and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,438 74% above U.S. |
$5,796Highest 86% above U.S. |
$5,313 70% above U.S. |
$3,957Lowest 27% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.5%±39 U.S.: 51.1% |
40.5%±38.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.2%±19.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±27.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Putney and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 12.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
16%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 min 36% above U.S. |
24 min 8% below U.S. |
18 minLowest 32% below U.S. |
38 minHighest 42% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.3%±7.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.9%±6.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.5%±3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Athens and Putney 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 | — | — | #32 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | — | Cornish School District | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | 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 | 6 photos → | None yet |
U.S. 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.