Compare towns

Athens vs Newfane vs Readsboro

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 kids (13.9% under 18).
Newfane has the most people working from home (30.8%).
Readsboro has the most affordable homes ($216k 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.

MeasureAthensNewfaneReadsboro
People
Population
431Lowest
1,456Highest
807
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
-4.7%Highest
VT: +2.8%
-8%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
47.3±6.5Lowest
10% above VT
54.4±3.9Highest
26% above VT
50.7±3.9
18% above VT
Newfane and Readsboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
13.9%±6.5Highest
VT: 17.9%
11.1%±3.7
VT: 17.9%
6.9%±2.6Lowest
VT: 17.9%
Athens and Newfane 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%
29.2%±3.9Highest
VT: 21.4%
20.6%±4.4Lowest
VT: 21.4%
Newfane 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%
46.5%Highest
VT: 43.8%
26.7%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.9%±3Highest
VT: 7%
2.4%±2.1Lowest
VT: 7%
3.3%±1.8
VT: 7%
Athens and Readsboro 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
16% below VT
$66,719±$21k
18% below VT
$55,268±$12kLowest
32% below VT
Athens and Newfane 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
$284,200±$49kHighest
10% below VT
$215,500±$52kLowest
32% below VT
Newfane and Athens 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
$1,266±$238Highest
about the VT average
$724±$32Lowest
41% below VT
Newfane 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
$5,174
about the VT average
$3,480Lowest
31% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
43.5%±39
VT: 48.4%
51.9%±79.7Highest
VT: 48.4%
17.4%±24.3Lowest
VT: 48.4%
Newfane 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%
10.9%
VT: 10.1%
7.3%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
73.7%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
87.2%Highest
VT: 73.2%
76.4%
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1973Highest
3 yrs older than VT
1971Lowest
5 yrs older than VT
1972
4 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
36 minHighest
53% above VT
27 minLowest
13% above VT
32 min
35% above VT
Work from home
19.3%±7.5
VT: 16.9%
30.8%±12.5Highest
VT: 16.9%
7.8%±3.1Lowest
VT: 16.9%
Newfane and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district — West River Valley Union Education District #72A Readsboro School District
High school in town — None in town None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.