Compare towns
Athens vs Putney vs Worcester
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 shortest commute (18 min average).
Worcester has the most people working from home (23.6%).
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 | Worcester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 431Lowest |
2,622Highest |
831 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -3.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.3±6.5Highest 10% above VT |
37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
47±2.7 9% above VT |
| Athens and Worcester 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% |
15.4%±4.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Putney 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% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±2.5 VT: 21.4% |
| Athens and Worcester 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% |
48.6% VT: 43.8% |
53%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±3Lowest VT: 7% |
20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
6.9%±4.7 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $68,438±$30kLowest 16% below VT |
$79,706±$18kHighest about the VT average |
$73,833±$18k 9% below VT |
| Putney and Worcester 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±$44kHighest 5% below VT |
$271,100±$27k 14% below VT |
| Putney and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$537Highest 9% below VT |
$508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
$1,023±$136 17% below VT |
| Athens and Worcester 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 |
$5,313 5% above VT |
$4,421Lowest 12% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.5%±39 VT: 48.4% |
54.2%±19.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
25.5%±37Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Putney and Athens 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% |
5.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.7% VT: 73.2% |
72.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
85.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
1977Highest 1 yr newer than VT |
1976 same as VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 53% above VT |
18 minLowest 24% below VT |
29 min 22% above VT |
| Work from home | 19.3%±7.5 VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±6.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.6%±4.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Worcester 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 | — |
| School district | — | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| 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.