Compare towns
Athens vs Cornwall vs Whiting vs Grafton
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).
Whiting has the most kids (23.5% under 18).
Grafton has the oldest population (median age 59.2).
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 | Whiting | Grafton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 431Lowest |
1,208Highest |
532 |
666 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +1.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— | -5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.3±6.5 10% above VT |
50.4±4.6 17% above VT |
39.6±2.7Lowest 8% below VT |
59.2±4.4Highest 37% above VT |
| Grafton 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% |
18.7%±3 VT: 17.9% |
23.5%±6.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
5.9%±3.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Whiting and Cornwall 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%±6.1 VT: 21.4% |
13%±5.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
34.2%±2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.3% VT: 43.8% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
25.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.4% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±3 VT: 7% |
3.7%±3.1Lowest VT: 7% |
6.2%±4 VT: 7% |
7.1%±5Highest VT: 7% |
| Grafton and Whiting 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 |
$91,250±$38k 12% above VT |
$76,111±$7k 6% below 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±$32kLowest 24% below VT |
$458,000±$49kHighest 45% above VT |
$280,400±$36k 11% below VT |
$343,200±$85k 8% above VT |
| Cornwall and Grafton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$537Lowest 9% below VT |
$1,125±$206Lowest 9% below VT |
$1,204±$519 about the VT average |
$1,288±$174Highest 4% above VT |
| Grafton and Whiting 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 |
$4,227Lowest 16% below VT |
$4,843 4% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.5%±39Lowest VT: 48.4% |
61.9%±65.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
58.3%±37.3 VT: 48.4% |
53.8%±69.4 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% |
11.5% VT: 10.1% |
4.5% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.7% VT: 73.2% |
94.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
65.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
89.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
1976 same as VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
1978Highest 2 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 53% above VT |
24 min about the VT average |
22 minLowest 7% below VT |
24 min 4% above VT |
| Work from home | 19.3%±7.5 VT: 16.9% |
24.4%±6.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
10%±5.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
15.8%±5.4 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 | Athens Grafton School District |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 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.