Compare towns
Athens vs Eden vs Waterville
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%).
Eden has the youngest population (median age 37.7).
Waterville has the oldest population (median age 49.1).
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 | Eden | Waterville |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 431Lowest |
1,351Highest |
680 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +1.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+1.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.3±6.5 10% above VT |
37.7±1.9Lowest 13% below VT |
49.1±8.2Highest 14% above VT |
| Waterville 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% |
20.4%±4.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
20.4%±8.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 21.6%±4.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
11.6%±3.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
14.4%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
| Athens and Waterville 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% |
17.4%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
32.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±3 VT: 7% |
4.1%±3.8Lowest VT: 7% |
5.3%±3.3Highest VT: 7% |
| Waterville 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 |
$83,578±$8kHighest about the VT average |
$71,250±$27k 12% below VT |
| Eden and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $240,400±$32kHighest 24% below VT |
$215,900±$27kLowest 32% below VT |
$236,300±$15k 25% below VT |
| Athens and Waterville 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 |
$1,300±$441Highest 5% above VT |
$1,110±$93Lowest 10% below VT |
| Eden 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 |
$3,313Lowest 34% below VT |
$3,957 21% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.5%±39 VT: 48.4% |
34.3%±39Lowest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±27.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Waterville and Athens 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% |
6.1% VT: 10.1% |
4.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
77.4% VT: 73.2% |
79.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1991Highest 15 yrs newer than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minLowest 53% above VT |
38 minHighest 63% above VT |
38 min 60% above VT |
| Work from home | 19.3%±7.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
5.6%±4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
8.5%±3 VT: 16.9% |
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A |
| 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.