Compare towns
Athens vs Highgate vs Troy vs Vershire
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%).
Highgate has the most expensive homes ($281k median).
Troy has the shortest commute (24 min average).
Vershire has the most affordable homes ($209k 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 | Highgate | Troy | Vershire |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 431Lowest |
3,528Highest |
1,749 |
842 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -1.8% VT: +2.8% |
+3.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-7.9%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.3±6.5Highest 10% above VT |
44±7.4Lowest about the VT average |
44.5±5.7 3% above VT |
45.7±9.3 6% above VT |
| Athens and Vershire 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% |
15.8%±5.3 VT: 17.9% |
21.4%±3.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
19.1%±4.5 VT: 17.9% |
| Troy and Vershire 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% |
22.2%±5.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
17.7%±3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.2%±5Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.3% VT: 43.8% |
19.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
20.2% VT: 43.8% |
31.8%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±3 VT: 7% |
2.6%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
2.7%±1.4 VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
| Vershire 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 |
$81,017±$14k about the VT average |
$87,938±$11kHighest 8% above VT |
$71,618±$12k 12% below VT |
| Troy and Highgate 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 |
$280,500±$21kHighest 11% below VT |
$233,200±$21k 26% below VT |
$209,100±$55kLowest 34% below VT |
| Highgate 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 |
$895±$691 27% below VT |
$646±$323Lowest 48% below VT |
$1,117±$80 9% below VT |
| Athens and Vershire 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 |
$3,558Lowest 29% below VT |
$3,644 28% below VT |
$4,640 8% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.5%±39 VT: 48.4% |
30.5%±11.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
30.8%±26.3 VT: 48.4% |
77.8%±24.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Vershire and Athens 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% |
8.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
19.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
80.7% VT: 73.2% |
86.6%Highest VT: 73.2% |
81.5% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1985Highest 9 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 53% above VT |
31 min 32% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
32 min 38% above VT |
| Work from home | 19.3%±7.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
7.8%±2.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
12.3%±4.1 VT: 16.9% |
| Athens and Highgate 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 | — | #43 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | — | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Troy School District | — |
| High school in town | — | Missisquoi Valley Union High School | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.8 |
— | — |
| 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.