Compare towns
Athens vs Fairlee 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 people working from home (19.3%).
Fairlee has the shortest commute (24 min average).
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 | Fairlee | Readsboro |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 431Lowest |
1,066Highest |
807 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +1.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.3±6.5Lowest 10% above VT |
56.2±8.7Highest 30% above VT |
50.7±3.9 18% above VT |
| Fairlee and Readsboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.9%±6.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
12.2%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
6.9%±2.6Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Athens and Fairlee 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% |
33.4%±5.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±4.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.3% VT: 43.8% |
46.5%Highest VT: 43.8% |
26.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±3 VT: 7% |
5.3%±3.7Highest VT: 7% |
3.3%±1.8Lowest VT: 7% |
| Fairlee 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 |
$74,760±$10kHighest 8% below VT |
$55,268±$12kLowest 32% below VT |
| Fairlee and Athens 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 |
$274,200±$39kHighest 13% below VT |
$215,500±$52kLowest 32% below VT |
| Fairlee 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 9% below VT |
$1,083±$242 12% below VT |
$724±$32Lowest 41% below VT |
| Athens and Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,438 8% above VT |
$5,617Highest 11% above VT |
$3,480Lowest 31% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.5%±39 VT: 48.4% |
89.2%±71.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
17.4%±24.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Fairlee and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 12.1% VT: 10.1% |
14.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
80.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
76.4% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Highest 3 yrs older than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 53% above VT |
24 minLowest 3% above VT |
32 min 35% above VT |
| Work from home | 19.3%±7.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
15%±7.9 VT: 16.9% |
7.8%±3.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Athens and Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | Rivendell Interstate School District | 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 |
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.