Compare towns
Athens vs Grafton vs Putney
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).
Grafton has the oldest population (median age 59.2).
Putney has the shortest commute (18 min average).
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 | Grafton | Putney |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 431Lowest |
666 |
2,622Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-3.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.3±6.5 10% above VT |
59.2±4.4Highest 37% above VT |
37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
| Kids under 18 | 13.9%±6.5 VT: 17.9% |
5.9%±3.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
15.4%±4.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Putney and Athens 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% |
34.2%±2Highest VT: 21.4% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.4% VT: 43.8% |
48.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±3Lowest VT: 7% |
7.1%±5 VT: 7% |
20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $68,438±$30kLowest 16% below VT |
$76,111±$7k 6% below VT |
$79,706±$18kHighest about the VT average |
| Putney and Grafton 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 |
$343,200±$85kHighest 8% above VT |
$300,000±$44k 5% below VT |
| Grafton and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$537 9% below VT |
$1,288±$174Highest 4% above VT |
$508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
| Grafton and Athens 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 |
$4,843Lowest 4% below VT |
$5,313 5% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.5%±39Lowest VT: 48.4% |
53.8%±69.4 VT: 48.4% |
54.2%±19.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Putney and Grafton 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% |
4.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
16%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.7% VT: 73.2% |
89.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
72.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
1978Highest 2 yrs newer than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 53% above VT |
24 min 4% above VT |
18 minLowest 24% below VT |
| Work from home | 19.3%±7.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
15.8%±5.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±6.5 VT: 16.9% |
| Athens and Putney 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 | — | — | #32 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | Athens Grafton School District | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.