What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Panton has the most expensive homes ($438k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Athens	Panton
People
Population	431Lowest	690Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	-4.6% VT: +2.8%
Median age	47.3±6.5Highest 10% above VT	42.7±3.8Lowest about the VT average
	Athens and Panton 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%	24.9%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9%
	Panton and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	21.6%±4.6Highest VT: 21.4%	16.7%±2.9Lowest VT: 21.4%
	Athens and Panton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	30.3%Lowest VT: 43.8%	35.1%Highest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.9%±3Highest VT: 7%	2.3%±1.3Lowest VT: 7%
	Athens and Panton 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	$86,667±$10kHighest 7% above VT
	Panton and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$240,400±$32kLowest 24% below VT	$438,000±$40kHighest 38% above VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,125±$537Lowest 9% below VT	$1,410±$130Highest 14% above VT
	Panton and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,438Lowest 8% above VT	$6,695Highest 33% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	43.5%±39Lowest VT: 48.4%	61%±39Highest VT: 48.4%
	Panton 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%	3.2%Lowest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	73.7%Lowest VT: 73.2%	83.7%Highest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT	1974Highest 2 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	36 minHighest 53% above VT	26 minLowest 11% above VT
Work from home	19.3%±7.5Lowest VT: 16.9%	26.7%±8.6Highest VT: 16.9%
	Panton and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.