Compare towns
Athens vs Exeter vs Waterville
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 homeowners (97.7%).
Waterville has the most affordable homes ($236k 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 | Waterville |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 431Lowest |
913Highest |
680 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -14.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.3±6.5Lowest 22% above U.S. |
51.7±12.6Highest 33% above U.S. |
49.1±8.2 26% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.9%±6.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.7%±7.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.4%±8.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Exeter and Waterville 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%±10.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.4%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Exeter 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
28.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±3 U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.3%±3.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 15% below U.S. |
$77,550±$19kHighest 4% below U.S. |
$71,250±$27k 12% below U.S. |
| Exeter 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±$32k 28% below U.S. |
$243,000±$89kHighest 27% below U.S. |
$236,300±$15kLowest 29% below U.S. |
| Exeter and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$537Highest 20% below U.S. |
$867±$44Lowest 39% below U.S. |
$1,110±$93 21% below U.S. |
| Athens and Waterville 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. |
$3,957 27% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.5%±39 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±27.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
97.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 min 36% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 9% above U.S. |
38 minHighest 42% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.3%±7.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.4%±10.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.5%±3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Athens and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | — | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A |
| High school in town | — | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.