Compare towns
Athens vs Ferrisburgh vs Whiting 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%).
Ferrisburgh has the most expensive homes ($423k median).
Whiting has the shortest commute (22 min average).
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 | Ferrisburgh | Whiting | Waterville |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 431Lowest |
2,661Highest |
532 |
680 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -4.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— | +1.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.3±6.5 10% above VT |
45.5±4.9 6% above VT |
39.6±2.7Lowest 8% 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% |
17.2%±4.5 VT: 17.9% |
23.5%±6.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
20.4%±8.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Whiting 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 VT: 21.4% |
23.3%±3.8Highest VT: 21.4% |
13%±5.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
14.4%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
| Ferrisburgh 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% VT: 43.8% |
51.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
25.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
32.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±3 VT: 7% |
3%±2.8Lowest VT: 7% |
6.2%±4Highest VT: 7% |
5.3%±3.3 VT: 7% |
| Whiting and Waterville 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 |
$106,989±$22kHighest 32% above VT |
$91,250±$38k 12% above VT |
$71,250±$27k 12% below VT |
| Ferrisburgh and Whiting 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 |
$422,700±$35kHighest 34% above VT |
$280,400±$36k 11% below VT |
$236,300±$15kLowest 25% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$537 9% below VT |
$1,435±$173Highest 16% above VT |
$1,204±$519 about the VT average |
$1,110±$93Lowest 10% below VT |
| Ferrisburgh and Whiting 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 |
$6,120Highest 21% above VT |
$4,227 16% below VT |
$3,957Lowest 21% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.5%±39Lowest VT: 48.4% |
57%±19.5 VT: 48.4% |
58.3%±37.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±27.2 VT: 48.4% |
| Whiting and Ferrisburgh 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% |
2.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
11.5% VT: 10.1% |
4.9% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.7% VT: 73.2% |
85.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
65.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
79.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1968Lowest 8 yrs older than VT |
1975Highest 1 yr older than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 min 53% above VT |
28 min 21% above VT |
22 minLowest 7% below VT |
38 minHighest 60% above VT |
| Work from home | 19.3%±7.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
14.6%±4.2 VT: 16.9% |
10%±5.4 VT: 16.9% |
8.5%±3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Athens and Ferrisburgh are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #7 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | — | Addison Northwest Unified Union School District #54 | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.