What stands out worked out from the figures below

Athens has the most expensive homes ($240k median).

Jefferson has the most homeowners (94%).

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	Jefferson
People
Population	431Lowest	1,226Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	-5.5% U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	47.3±6.5Lowest 22% above U.S.	53.9±5.2Highest 39% above U.S.
	Jefferson and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	13.9%±6.5Highest U.S.: 22%	12.2%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Athens and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	21.6%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	30.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Jefferson 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	29%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.9%±3Highest U.S.: 6.4%	1.3%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Athens and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$68,438±$30kHighest 15% below U.S.	$67,083±$9kLowest 17% below U.S.
	Athens and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$240,400±$32kHighest 28% below U.S.	$186,900±$42kLowest 44% below U.S.
	Athens and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,125±$537 20% below U.S.	—
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,438Highest 74% above U.S.	$3,602Lowest 15% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	43.5%±39Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Jefferson 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 U.S.: 12.5%	11.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	73.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	94%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S.	1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	36 minHighest 36% above U.S.	32 minLowest 20% above U.S.
Work from home	19.3%±7.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	23.6%±10.3Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Jefferson and Athens 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

U.S. 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.