What stands out worked out from the figures below

Athens has the most affordable homes ($240k median).

Rupert has the most expensive homes ($363k median).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Athens	Rupert
People
Population	431Lowest	676Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	-2.2% VT: +2.8%
Median age	47.3±6.5Lowest 10% above VT	57.8±9.7Highest 34% above VT
	Rupert 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%	13.9%±3.7 VT: 17.9%
Age 65+	21.6%±4.6Lowest VT: 21.4%	42.3%±8.1Highest VT: 21.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	30.3%Lowest VT: 43.8%	30.6%Highest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.9%±3Highest VT: 7%	2.1%±2.5Lowest VT: 7%
	Athens and Rupert 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	$88,229±$36kHighest 9% above VT
	Rupert and Athens 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	$362,500±$63kHighest 14% above VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,125±$537 9% below VT	—
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,438Highest 8% above VT	$4,594Lowest 9% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	43.5%±39Highest VT: 48.4%	20%±100Lowest VT: 48.4%
	Athens and Rupert 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%	6%Lowest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	73.7%Lowest VT: 73.2%	93.7%Highest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1973Highest 3 yrs older than VT	1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	36 minHighest 53% above VT	27 minLowest 14% above VT
Work from home	19.3%±7.5Highest VT: 16.9%	18.6%±9.2Lowest VT: 16.9%
	Athens and Rupert are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.