Compare towns
Athens vs Dummerston vs Williston vs Readsboro
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 renters (26.3% rent).
Dummerston has the most homeowners (92.9%).
Williston has the most expensive homes ($476k median).
Readsboro has the most affordable homes ($216k 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 | Dummerston | Williston | Readsboro |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 431Lowest |
2,090 |
10,144Highest |
807 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +0.1% VT: +2.8% |
+16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-8%Lowest 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 |
50.7±3.9Highest 18% above VT |
| Readsboro and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 13.9%±6.5 VT: 17.9% |
21.7%±6Highest VT: 17.9% |
20.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
6.9%±2.6Lowest 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%±3Highest VT: 21.4% |
21%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±4.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Dummerston 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% VT: 43.8% |
58.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
54.9% VT: 43.8% |
26.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±3 VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7Highest VT: 7% |
3.3%±1.8 VT: 7% |
| Williston 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±$30k 16% below VT |
$101,696±$21k 25% above VT |
$106,967±$12kHighest 32% above VT |
$55,268±$12kLowest 32% 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±$32k 24% below VT |
$335,300±$22k 6% above VT |
$475,800±$40kHighest 50% above VT |
$215,500±$52kLowest 32% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$537 9% below VT |
$1,392±$126 13% above VT |
$1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
$724±$32Lowest 41% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,438 8% above VT |
$4,536 10% below VT |
$5,592Highest 11% above VT |
$3,480Lowest 31% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.5%±39 VT: 48.4% |
44.1%±32.2 VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
17.4%±24.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Williston and Dummerston 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% |
7.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
75.1% VT: 73.2% |
76.4% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
1972 4 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 |
32 min 35% 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% |
7.8%±3.1Lowest 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 | Readsboro 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.