Compare towns
Athens vs Cornwall vs White River Junction
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).
Cornwall has the most expensive homes ($458k median).
White River Junction has the most renters (56.1% rent).
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 | Cornwall | White River Junction |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 431Lowest |
1,208 |
3,364Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +1.9%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+10.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.3±6.5 10% above VT |
50.4±4.6Highest 17% above VT |
33.7±3.2Lowest 22% 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%±3Highest VT: 17.9% |
17.1%±5 VT: 17.9% |
| Cornwall and White River Junction 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% |
12.5%±3.6Lowest 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%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
38.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±3Highest VT: 7% |
3.7%±3.1 VT: 7% |
1.2%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Athens and Cornwall 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 |
$77,168±$4k 5% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $240,400±$32kLowest 24% below VT |
$458,000±$49kHighest 45% above VT |
$278,800±$78k 12% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$537Lowest 9% below VT |
$1,125±$206Lowest 9% below VT |
$1,222±$216Highest about the VT average |
| White River Junction and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,438Lowest 8% above VT |
$6,726Highest 33% above VT |
$5,651 12% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.5%±39 VT: 48.4% |
61.9%±65.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
42.9%±17.3Lowest 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% |
0.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
12.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.7% VT: 73.2% |
94.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
43.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1976Highest same as VT |
1963Lowest 13 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 53% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
15 minLowest 35% below VT |
| Work from home | 19.3%±7.5 VT: 16.9% |
24.4%±6.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
15.7%±5.8Lowest 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 | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.