Compare towns

Athens vs Poultney vs Stratton

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%).
Poultney has the most renters (43.3% rent).
Stratton has the highest household income ($123k).

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.

MeasureAthensPoultneyStratton
People
Population
431Lowest
1,033Highest
532
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
-33.1%
VT: +2.8%
—
Median age
47.3±6.5Highest
10% above VT
28.2±4.5Lowest
35% below VT
31.5±4.1
27% below VT
Kids under 18
13.9%±6.5Lowest
VT: 17.9%
16.8%±5
VT: 17.9%
28%±7.4Highest
VT: 17.9%
Stratton and Poultney 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%
21.1%±6.6
VT: 21.4%
11.7%±4Lowest
VT: 21.4%
Athens and Poultney 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%
38.4%Highest
VT: 43.8%
33.2%
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.9%±3
VT: 7%
22.1%±3.3Highest
VT: 7%
1.3%±2.8Lowest
VT: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$68,438±$30kLowest
16% below VT
$70,536±$11k
13% below VT
$122,708±$33kHighest
51% above VT
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$240,400±$32k
24% below VT
$196,600±$43kLowest
38% below VT
$400,000±$50kHighest
26% above VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,125±$537
9% below VT
$868±$113Lowest
30% below VT
$1,208±$979Highest
about the VT average
Stratton 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
$3,450Lowest
32% below VT
$4,750
6% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
43.5%±39Highest
VT: 48.4%
23.2%±12.4
VT: 48.4%
12%±69.8Lowest
VT: 48.4%
Athens and Poultney 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%
11.4%
VT: 10.1%
0%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
73.7%Highest
VT: 73.2%
56.7%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
73.3%
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1973
3 yrs older than VT
1938Lowest
38 yrs older than VT
1988Highest
12 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
36 minHighest
53% above VT
31 minLowest
33% above VT
33 min
39% above VT
Work from home
19.3%±7.5Highest
VT: 16.9%
11.3%±3.5
VT: 16.9%
3.3%±3.5Lowest
VT: 16.9%
Athens and Poultney 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 — #41 of 70 in VT —
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.