Compare towns
Athens vs Highgate vs Waterville vs Westminster
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 renters (26.3% rent).
Highgate has the highest household income ($81k).
Waterville has the most kids (20.4% under 18).
Westminster has the most people working from home (27%).
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 | Waterville | Westminster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 431Lowest |
3,528Highest |
680 |
2,999 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -1.8% VT: +2.8% |
+1.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-5.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.3±6.5 10% above VT |
44±7.4Lowest about the VT average |
49.1±8.2 14% above VT |
53.5±3.7Highest 24% above VT |
| Westminster and Waterville 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% |
20.4%±8.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.2%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
| Waterville and Westminster 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%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
14.4%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
27.6%±6.8Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Westminster and Highgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.3% VT: 43.8% |
19.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
32.1% VT: 43.8% |
46.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±3 VT: 7% |
2.6%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
5.3%±3.3Highest VT: 7% |
4.4%±3.1 VT: 7% |
| Waterville 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±$14kHighest about the VT average |
$71,250±$27k 12% below VT |
$71,491±$4k 12% below VT |
| Highgate and Westminster 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 |
$236,300±$15kLowest 25% below VT |
$273,800±$35k 14% below VT |
| Highgate and Westminster 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±$691Lowest 27% below VT |
$1,110±$93 10% below VT |
$916±$126 26% below VT |
| Athens and Waterville 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 |
$3,957 21% below VT |
$4,063 19% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.5%±39 VT: 48.4% |
30.5%±11.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±27.2 VT: 48.4% |
49.2%±7.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Westminster and Waterville 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% |
8.1% VT: 10.1% |
4.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.8% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
80.7% VT: 73.2% |
79.9% VT: 73.2% |
88.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 min 53% above VT |
31 min 32% above VT |
38 minHighest 60% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
| Work from home | 19.3%±7.5 VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
8.5%±3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
27%±6.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Westminster and Athens 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 | — | #53 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A | Bellows Falls Union High School District #27 · Westminster School District |
| High school in town | — | Missisquoi Valley Union High School | None in town | Bellows Falls Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.8Lowest |
— | 10.6Highest |
| 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.