Compare towns
Athens vs Franklin 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%).
Franklin has the most kids (23.5% under 18).
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 | Franklin | Readsboro |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 431Lowest |
1,590Highest |
807 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -3%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.3±6.5 10% above VT |
38.8±6.9Lowest 10% below VT |
50.7±3.9Highest 18% above VT |
| Readsboro 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% |
23.5%±5.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
6.9%±2.6Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Franklin and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.6%±4.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
15.3%±1.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±4.4 VT: 21.4% |
| Athens and Readsboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
21.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
26.7% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±3 VT: 7% |
7.5%±3.1Highest VT: 7% |
3.3%±1.8Lowest VT: 7% |
| Franklin 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 |
$79,917±$21kHighest about the VT average |
$55,268±$12kLowest 32% below VT |
| Franklin 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 |
$247,400±$66kHighest 22% below VT |
$215,500±$52kLowest 32% below VT |
| Franklin 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 |
$891±$266 28% below VT |
$724±$32Lowest 41% below VT |
| Athens and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,438Highest 8% above VT |
$3,384Lowest 33% below VT |
$3,480 31% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.5%±39 VT: 48.4% |
45.5%±42.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
17.4%±24.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Franklin 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 VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
7.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
74.7% VT: 73.2% |
76.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 53% above VT |
25 minLowest 8% above VT |
32 min 35% above VT |
| Work from home | 19.3%±7.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
18.1%±4.7 VT: 16.9% |
7.8%±3.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Athens and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | 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.