Compare towns

Athens vs Cornwall vs Marshfield vs Whiting

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Cornwall has the most expensive homes ($458k median).
Marshfield has the most affordable homes ($178k median).
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.

MeasureAthensCornwallMarshfieldWhiting
People
Population
431Lowest
1,208Highest
470
532
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
+1.9%
VT: +2.8%
— —
Median age
47.3±6.5
10% above VT
50.4±4.6Highest
17% above VT
42.4±8.8
about the VT average
39.6±2.7Lowest
8% below VT
Cornwall and Athens 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%
18.7%±3
VT: 17.9%
19.4%±9.1
VT: 17.9%
23.5%±6.9Highest
VT: 17.9%
Whiting and Marshfield 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%
25.7%±6.1Highest
VT: 21.4%
10.2%±4.4Lowest
VT: 21.4%
13%±5.1
VT: 21.4%
Cornwall 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%
54.7%Highest
VT: 43.8%
35.7%
VT: 43.8%
25.9%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.9%±3
VT: 7%
3.7%±3.1
VT: 7%
3.6%±2.4Lowest
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
$114,583±$32kHighest
41% above VT
$84,375±$20k
4% above VT
$91,250±$38k
12% above VT
Cornwall and Whiting 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
$458,000±$49kHighest
45% above VT
$178,300±$31kLowest
44% below VT
$280,400±$36k
11% below VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,125±$537Lowest
9% below VT
$1,125±$206Lowest
9% below VT
$1,125±$79Lowest
9% 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
$5,438
8% above VT
$6,726Highest
33% above VT
$3,269Lowest
35% below VT
$4,227
16% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
43.5%±39Lowest
VT: 48.4%
61.9%±65.5Highest
VT: 48.4%
52.4%±62.4
VT: 48.4%
58.3%±37.3
VT: 48.4%
Cornwall and Whiting 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%
0.8%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
4.9%
VT: 10.1%
11.5%
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
73.7%
VT: 73.2%
94.3%Highest
VT: 73.2%
81.2%
VT: 73.2%
65.4%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1973
3 yrs older than VT
1976Highest
same as VT
1938Lowest
38 yrs older than VT
1975
1 yr older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
36 minHighest
53% above VT
24 min
about the VT average
29 min
24% above VT
22 minLowest
7% below VT
Work from home
19.3%±7.5
VT: 16.9%
24.4%±6.6Highest
VT: 16.9%
17.5%±7.2
VT: 16.9%
10%±5.4Lowest
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 — Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 — Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53
High school in town — None in town — None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story 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.