Compare towns
Athens vs Putney vs Williston vs Grafton
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 affordable homes ($240k median).
Putney has the youngest population (median age 37.2).
Williston has the most expensive homes ($476k median).
Grafton has the oldest population (median age 59.2).
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 | Putney | Williston | Grafton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 431Lowest |
2,622 |
10,144Highest |
666 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -3.1% VT: +2.8% |
+16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.3±6.5 10% above VT |
37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
45.4±4.5 5% above VT |
59.2±4.4Highest 37% above VT |
| Kids under 18 | 13.9%±6.5 VT: 17.9% |
15.4%±4.1 VT: 17.9% |
20.5%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
5.9%±3.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Williston and Putney 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% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
34.2%±2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.6% VT: 43.8% |
54.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48.4% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±3Lowest VT: 7% |
20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7 VT: 7% |
7.1%±5 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $68,438±$30kLowest 16% below VT |
$79,706±$18k about the VT average |
$106,967±$12kHighest 32% above VT |
$76,111±$7k 6% below VT |
| Williston and Putney 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 |
$300,000±$44k 5% below VT |
$475,800±$40kHighest 50% above VT |
$343,200±$85k 8% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$537 9% below VT |
$508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
$1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
$1,288±$174 4% above VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,438 8% above VT |
$5,313 5% above VT |
$5,592Highest 11% above VT |
$4,843Lowest 4% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.5%±39Lowest VT: 48.4% |
54.2%±19.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4 VT: 48.4% |
53.8%±69.4 VT: 48.4% |
| Putney and Grafton 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%Highest VT: 10.1% |
4.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
4.5% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.7% VT: 73.2% |
72.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
75.1% VT: 73.2% |
89.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
1978 2 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 53% above VT |
18 minLowest 24% below VT |
20 min 16% below VT |
24 min 4% above VT |
| Work from home | 19.3%±7.5 VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±6.5 VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
15.8%±5.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Williston and Athens 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 | — | #32 of 70 in VT | #11 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | — | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Athens Grafton School District |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.