Compare towns
Athens vs Proctor vs Sheldon 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 people working from home (19.3%).
Proctor has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Sheldon has the most expensive homes ($272k median).
Readsboro has the oldest population (median age 50.7).
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 | Proctor | Sheldon | Readsboro |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 431Lowest |
1,794 |
2,267Highest |
807 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +1.3%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.5% VT: +2.8% |
-8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.3±6.5 10% above VT |
42.4±6.4 about the VT average |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% below VT |
50.7±3.9Highest 18% above VT |
| Readsboro and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 13.9%±6.5 VT: 17.9% |
21.8%±4.4 VT: 17.9% |
23.7%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
6.9%±2.6Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Sheldon and Proctor 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% |
22.4%±2.5Highest VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±4.4 VT: 21.4% |
| Proctor 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 VT: 43.8% |
28.1% VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
26.7% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±3Highest VT: 7% |
3.6%±1.7 VT: 7% |
2%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
3.3%±1.8 VT: 7% |
| Athens and Proctor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $68,438±$30k 16% below VT |
$74,167±$12k 9% below VT |
$78,533±$25kHighest 3% below VT |
$55,268±$12kLowest 32% below VT |
| Sheldon and Proctor 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 |
$209,900±$17kLowest 34% below VT |
$272,400±$61kHighest 14% below VT |
$215,500±$52k 32% below VT |
| Sheldon 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 |
$1,029±$202 17% below VT |
$1,286±$379Highest 4% above VT |
$724±$32Lowest 41% below VT |
| Sheldon 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 |
$4,032 20% below VT |
$3,578 29% below VT |
$3,480Lowest 31% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.5%±39Highest VT: 48.4% |
37.3%±16.2 VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
17.4%±24.3 VT: 48.4% |
| Athens and Proctor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 12.1% VT: 10.1% |
16.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
7.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
86.7% VT: 73.2% |
89%Highest VT: 73.2% |
76.4% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 53% above VT |
22 minLowest 6% below VT |
25 min 7% above VT |
32 min 35% above VT |
| Work from home | 19.3%±7.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
9.4%±4.6 VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
7.8%±3.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Athens and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | Quarry Valley Unified Union School District #70 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Readsboro School District |
| High school in town | — | Proctor Junior/Senior High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.7 |
— | — |
| 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.