Compare towns
Athens vs Reading 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).
Reading has the most kids (18.5% under 18).
Grafton has the shortest commute (24 min average).
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 | Reading | Grafton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 431Lowest |
699Highest |
666 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +3.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.3±6.5Lowest 10% above VT |
51.1±7.6 19% above VT |
59.2±4.4Highest 37% above VT |
| Grafton and Reading 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% |
18.5%±4.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
5.9%±3.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Reading and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.6%±4.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
28.2%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
34.2%±2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
46% VT: 43.8% |
48.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±3 VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5Lowest VT: 7% |
7.1%±5Highest VT: 7% |
| Grafton and Athens 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 |
$85,000±$19kHighest 5% above VT |
$76,111±$7k 6% below VT |
| Reading and Grafton 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 |
$377,200±$72kHighest 19% above VT |
$343,200±$85k 8% above VT |
| Reading and Grafton 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 |
$1,100±$331Lowest 11% below VT |
$1,288±$174Highest 4% above VT |
| Grafton and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,438 8% above VT |
$5,754Highest 14% above VT |
$4,843Lowest 4% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.5%±39Lowest VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
53.8%±69.4 VT: 48.4% |
| Reading and Grafton 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% |
8.4% VT: 10.1% |
4.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
84.9% VT: 73.2% |
89.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1969Lowest 7 yrs older than VT |
1978Highest 2 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 53% above VT |
33 min 41% above VT |
24 minLowest 4% above VT |
| Work from home | 19.3%±7.5 VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
15.8%±5.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Reading and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Athens Grafton School District |
| 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.