Compare towns
Athens vs Derby 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 people working from home (19.3%).
Derby has the most kids (15.7% under 18).
Grafton has the most expensive homes ($343k median).
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 | Derby | Grafton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 431Lowest |
4,537Highest |
666 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -0.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.3±6.5Lowest 10% above VT |
51.6±2.1 20% above VT |
59.2±4.4Highest 37% above VT |
| Kids under 18 | 13.9%±6.5 VT: 17.9% |
15.7%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
5.9%±3.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Derby and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.6%±4.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
27.2%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
34.2%±2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
36.8% VT: 43.8% |
48.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±3 VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
7.1%±5Highest VT: 7% |
| Grafton 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 |
$80,250±$8kHighest about the VT average |
$76,111±$7k 6% below VT |
| Derby and Grafton 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 |
$225,000±$10kLowest 29% below VT |
$343,200±$85kHighest 8% above VT |
| Grafton 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 9% below VT |
$1,096±$118Lowest 11% below VT |
$1,288±$174Highest 4% above VT |
| Grafton and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,438Highest 8% above VT |
$3,449Lowest 32% below VT |
$4,843 4% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.5%±39Lowest VT: 48.4% |
45.8%±18.5 VT: 48.4% |
53.8%±69.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Grafton and Derby 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% |
7.4% VT: 10.1% |
4.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
84.7% VT: 73.2% |
89.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
1978Highest 2 yrs newer than VT |
1978Highest 2 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 53% above VT |
32 min 38% above VT |
24 minLowest 4% above VT |
| Work from home | 19.3%±7.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
10.6%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
15.8%±5.4 VT: 16.9% |
| Athens and Grafton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #52 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | — | Derby School District · North Country Union Junior High School District | Athens Grafton School District |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.