What stands out worked out from the figures below

Athens has the most people working from home (19.3%).

Dalton has the most kids (20.6% 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Athens	Dalton
People
Population	431Lowest	916Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	-4.7% U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	47.3±6.5Highest 22% above U.S.	44.5±12.9Lowest 14% above U.S.
	Athens and Dalton 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%	20.6%±11.3Highest U.S.: 22%
	Dalton and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	21.6%±4.6Highest U.S.: 17.2%	17.8%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Athens and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	30.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	20.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.9%±3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	5.1%±4.3Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Dalton 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 15% below U.S.	$81,429±$36kHighest about the U.S. average
	Dalton and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$240,400±$32kHighest 28% below U.S.	$191,400±$68kLowest 42% below U.S.
	Athens and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,125±$537Highest 20% below U.S.	$900±$825Lowest 36% below U.S.
	Athens and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,438Highest 74% above U.S.	$3,561Lowest 14% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	43.5%±39Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	57.7%±83.7Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Dalton and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	12.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	19.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	73.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	82.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S.	1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	36 minHighest 36% above U.S.	20 minLowest 25% below U.S.
Work from home	19.3%±7.5Highest U.S.: 15.1%	5.9%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.