Compare towns
Athens vs Fairlee vs Windham
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 affordable homes ($240k median).
Fairlee has the oldest population (median age 56.2).
Windham has the most expensive homes ($354k 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 | Windham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 431Lowest |
1,066Highest |
594 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +1.1% VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 47.3±6.5 10% above VT |
56.2±8.7Highest 30% above VT |
44.2±7.4Lowest about the VT average |
| Fairlee 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% |
12.2%±4.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
17.5%±7.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Windham and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.6%±4.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
33.4%±5.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
23.2%±8.1 VT: 21.4% |
| Fairlee and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
46.5% VT: 43.8% |
48.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±3 VT: 7% |
5.3%±3.7Highest VT: 7% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest 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±$30kLowest 16% below VT |
$74,760±$10k 8% below VT |
$94,500±$12kHighest 16% above VT |
| Windham and Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $240,400±$32kLowest 24% below VT |
$274,200±$39k 13% below VT |
$353,900±$20kHighest 12% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$537Highest 9% below VT |
$1,083±$242Lowest 12% 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 | $5,438Lowest 8% above VT |
$5,617 11% above VT |
$5,951Highest 18% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.5%±39 VT: 48.4% |
89.2%±71.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
41.2%±94Lowest 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% |
9.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
80.9% VT: 73.2% |
82.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 53% above VT |
24 minLowest 3% above VT |
27 min 14% above VT |
| Work from home | 19.3%±7.5 VT: 16.9% |
15%±7.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
20.5%±5.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Windham and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | Rivendell Interstate School District | — |
| High school 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.