Compare towns
Athens vs Dummerston vs Williston vs Newbury
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).
Dummerston has the most homeowners (92.9%).
Williston has the most expensive homes ($476k median).
Newbury has the most renters (32.2% 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 | Dummerston | Williston | Newbury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 431 |
2,090 |
10,144Highest |
393Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +0.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 47.3±6.5 10% above VT |
45.6±11.7 6% above VT |
45.4±4.5Lowest 5% above VT |
48.3±14Highest 12% above VT |
| Newbury 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% |
21.7%±6Highest VT: 17.9% |
20.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±7.4 VT: 17.9% |
| Dummerston and Williston 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% |
24.3%±3 VT: 21.4% |
21%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
27.5%±9.8Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Newbury and Dummerston 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% |
58.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
54.9% VT: 43.8% |
38.2% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±3 VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7 VT: 7% |
6.9%±6.5Highest VT: 7% |
| Newbury and Williston 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 |
$101,696±$21k 25% above VT |
$106,967±$12kHighest 32% above VT |
$76,250±$23k 6% below VT |
| Williston and Dummerston 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 |
$335,300±$22k 6% above VT |
$475,800±$40kHighest 50% above VT |
$275,900±$28k 13% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$537Lowest 9% below VT |
$1,392±$126 13% above VT |
$1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
$1,259±$401 about the VT average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,438 8% above VT |
$4,536 10% below VT |
$5,592Highest 11% above VT |
$3,943Lowest 22% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.5%±39Lowest VT: 48.4% |
44.1%±32.2 VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4 VT: 48.4% |
51%±25.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Newbury and Williston 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% |
4.5% VT: 10.1% |
4.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
9.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.7% VT: 73.2% |
92.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
75.1% VT: 73.2% |
67.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1971 5 yrs older than VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 53% above VT |
21 min 11% below VT |
20 minLowest 16% below VT |
30 min 29% above VT |
| Work from home | 19.3%±7.5 VT: 16.9% |
25.9%±10.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6 VT: 16.9% |
14.3%±8.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Dummerston and Williston 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 | — | — | #11 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | — | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | — |
| High school 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.