What stands out worked out from the figures below

Athens has the most people working from home (19.3%).

Groton has the most homeowners (94.4%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Athens	Groton
People
Population	431Lowest	967Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	-3.7% VT: +2.8%
Median age	47.3±6.5Highest 10% above VT	45.7±5.8Lowest 6% above VT
	Athens and Groton 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%	13.3%±2.9Lowest VT: 17.9%
	Athens and Groton 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%	20.5%±3Lowest VT: 21.4%
	Athens and Groton 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%	38.1%Highest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.9%±3Lowest VT: 7%	7.5%±5.7Highest VT: 7%
	Groton 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	$77,250±$14kHighest 5% below VT
	Groton 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±$32kLowest 24% below VT	$243,000±$70kHighest 23% below VT
	Groton 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	$288±$151Lowest 77% below VT
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,438Highest 8% above VT	$3,659Lowest 27% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	43.5%±39Highest VT: 48.4%	12.5%±72.9Lowest VT: 48.4%
	Athens and Groton 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%	6.8%Lowest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	73.7%Lowest VT: 73.2%	94.4%Highest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT	1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	36 minHighest 53% above VT	30 minLowest 29% above VT
Work from home	19.3%±7.5Highest VT: 16.9%	12.3%±7Lowest VT: 16.9%
	Athens and Groton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.