Compare towns
Athens vs Hancock vs Salisbury vs Whiting
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%).
Hancock has the most affordable homes ($188k median).
Salisbury has the most homeowners (88.7%).
Whiting has the most kids (23.5% under 18).
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 | Hancock | Salisbury | Whiting |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 431Lowest |
435 |
1,200Highest |
532 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | +7.5% VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 47.3±6.5 10% above VT |
33.8±11.6Lowest 22% below VT |
50.6±6.5Highest 17% above VT |
39.6±2.7 8% below VT |
| Salisbury 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%±5.8 VT: 17.9% |
16.6%±3.2 VT: 17.9% |
23.5%±6.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Whiting and Hancock 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% |
19.8%±3.6 VT: 21.4% |
30.4%±2.9Highest VT: 21.4% |
13%±5.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.3% VT: 43.8% |
34.3% VT: 43.8% |
34.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
25.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±3 VT: 7% |
3.7%±3.6 VT: 7% |
1.6%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
6.2%±4Highest VT: 7% |
| Whiting 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 |
$76,250±$34k 6% below VT |
$99,688±$21kHighest 23% above VT |
$91,250±$38k 12% above VT |
| Salisbury 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 |
$187,900±$11kLowest 41% below VT |
$306,900±$51kHighest 3% below VT |
$280,400±$36k 11% below VT |
| Salisbury and Whiting 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 |
$939±$19Lowest 24% below VT |
$1,443±$984Highest 17% above VT |
$1,204±$519 about the VT average |
| Salisbury and Whiting 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 |
$3,511Lowest 30% below VT |
$4,842 4% below VT |
$4,227 16% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.5%±39 VT: 48.4% |
3.5%±16.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
31.9%±22.6 VT: 48.4% |
58.3%±37.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Whiting 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% |
5.6% VT: 10.1% |
4.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
11.5% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.7% VT: 73.2% |
59.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
88.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
65.4% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1967Lowest 9 yrs older than VT |
1975Highest 1 yr older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 53% above VT |
28 min 17% above VT |
19 minLowest 20% below VT |
22 min 7% below VT |
| Work from home | 19.3%±7.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
11.7%±5 VT: 16.9% |
6%±2.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
10%±5.4 VT: 16.9% |
| Athens and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | — | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 |
| High school in town | — | — | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.