Compare towns
Athens vs Cornish vs Readsboro 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 highest household income ($92k).
Readsboro has the most affordable homes ($216k median).
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 | Readsboro | Waterville |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 431Lowest |
1,816Highest |
807 |
680 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -1.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.3±6.5Lowest 22% above U.S. |
54±8.3Highest 39% above U.S. |
50.7±3.9 30% above U.S. |
49.1±8.2 26% above U.S. |
| Cornish and Readsboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 13.9%±6.5 U.S.: 22% |
14.4%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
6.9%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.4%±8.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Waterville and Cornish 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% |
20.6%±4.4 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
40.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
26.7%Lowest 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% |
3.3%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.3%±3.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Waterville 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±$30k 15% below U.S. |
$91,821±$2kHighest 14% above U.S. |
$55,268±$12kLowest 32% below U.S. |
$71,250±$27k 12% below U.S. |
| Cornish and Waterville 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±$69kHighest 11% below U.S. |
$215,500±$52kLowest 35% below U.S. |
$236,300±$15k 29% below U.S. |
| Cornish 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 20% below U.S. |
$1,221±$227Highest 14% below U.S. |
$724±$32Lowest 49% 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. |
$3,480Lowest 12% above U.S. |
$3,957 27% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.5%±39 U.S.: 51.1% |
40.5%±38.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
17.4%±24.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±27.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Waterville 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
76.4% 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. |
1972Lowest 8 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 minLowest 8% below U.S. |
32 min 20% above 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% |
7.8%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.5%±3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Athens and Cornish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | Cornish School District | Readsboro School District | 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 Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet | 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.