Compare towns
Athens vs Exeter vs Ripton vs Readsboro
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Athens has the most people working from home (19.3%).
Exeter has the most kids (22.7% under 18).
Ripton has the most expensive homes ($394k 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 | Exeter | Ripton | Readsboro |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 431Lowest |
913Highest |
508 |
807 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -14.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+25.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.3±6.5Lowest 22% above U.S. |
51.7±12.6Highest 33% above U.S. |
47.7±14.2 23% above U.S. |
50.7±3.9 30% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Readsboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 13.9%±6.5 U.S.: 22% |
22.7%±7.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.8%±6.3 U.S.: 22% |
6.9%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Exeter and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.6%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.9%±10.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.5%±7.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ripton and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
28.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
48%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
26.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±3 U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
20.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $68,438±$30k 15% below U.S. |
$77,550±$19k 4% below U.S. |
$112,917±$15kHighest 40% above U.S. |
$55,268±$12kLowest 32% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $240,400±$32k 28% below U.S. |
$243,000±$89k 27% below U.S. |
$394,400±$61kHighest 19% above U.S. |
$215,500±$52kLowest 35% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$537Highest 20% below U.S. |
$867±$44 39% below U.S. |
— | $724±$32Lowest 49% below U.S. |
| Athens and Exeter 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. |
$2,926Lowest 6% below U.S. |
$4,915 58% above U.S. |
$3,480 12% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.5%±39 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.9%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
17.4%±24.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ripton 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
97.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
76.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 36% above U.S. |
29 min 9% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.3%±7.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.4%±10.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±8.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
7.8%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Athens and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | — | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Readsboro School District |
| High school in town | — | — | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 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.