Compare towns
Athens vs Highgate vs Whiting vs Waterville
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 homeowners (80.7%).
Whiting has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Waterville has the oldest population (median age 49.1).
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 | Whiting | Waterville |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 431Lowest |
3,528Highest |
532 |
680 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -1.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— | +1.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.3±6.5 10% above VT |
44±7.4 about the VT average |
39.6±2.7Lowest 8% below VT |
49.1±8.2Highest 14% above VT |
| Waterville 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% |
15.8%±5.3 VT: 17.9% |
23.5%±6.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
20.4%±8.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Whiting and Waterville 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% |
13%±5.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
14.4%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
| Highgate and Athens 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% |
25.9% VT: 43.8% |
32.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±3 VT: 7% |
2.6%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
6.2%±4Highest VT: 7% |
5.3%±3.3 VT: 7% |
| Whiting and Waterville 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 |
$91,250±$38kHighest 12% above VT |
$71,250±$27k 12% below VT |
| Whiting 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 |
$280,400±$36k 11% below VT |
$236,300±$15kLowest 25% below VT |
| Highgate 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 |
$895±$691Lowest 27% below VT |
$1,204±$519Highest about the VT average |
$1,110±$93 10% below VT |
| Whiting 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 |
$3,558Lowest 29% below VT |
$4,227 16% below VT |
$3,957 21% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.5%±39 VT: 48.4% |
30.5%±11.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
58.3%±37.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±27.2 VT: 48.4% |
| Whiting 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% |
11.5% VT: 10.1% |
4.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.7% VT: 73.2% |
80.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
65.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
79.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 min 53% above VT |
31 min 32% above VT |
22 minLowest 7% below VT |
38 minHighest 60% above VT |
| Work from home | 19.3%±7.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
10%±5.4 VT: 16.9% |
8.5%±3Lowest 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 | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A |
| High school in town | — | Missisquoi Valley Union High School | None in town | 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.