Compare towns
Athens vs Strafford vs Whiting
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%).
Strafford has the most expensive homes ($431k median).
Whiting has the youngest population (median age 39.6).
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 | Strafford | Whiting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 431Lowest |
1,372Highest |
532 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -0.4% VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 47.3±6.5 10% above VT |
51.4±4.7Highest 19% above VT |
39.6±2.7Lowest 8% below VT |
| Strafford and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.9%±6.5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
23.5%±6.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Whiting and Strafford 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% |
22.1%±3.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
13%±5.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Strafford 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% VT: 43.8% |
53.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
25.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±3Lowest VT: 7% |
5.1%±2.6 VT: 7% |
6.2%±4Highest VT: 7% |
| Whiting and Strafford 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 |
$110,833±$19kHighest 36% above VT |
$91,250±$38k 12% above VT |
| Strafford and Whiting 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 |
$431,300±$40kHighest 36% above VT |
$280,400±$36k 11% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$537Lowest 9% below VT |
$1,125±$789Lowest 9% below VT |
$1,204±$519Highest about the VT average |
| Whiting 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 |
$7,149Highest 42% above VT |
$4,227Lowest 16% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.5%±39Lowest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±48 VT: 48.4% |
58.3%±37.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Whiting and Strafford 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% |
5.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
11.5% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.7% VT: 73.2% |
88.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
65.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 53% above VT |
23 min about the VT average |
22 minLowest 7% below VT |
| Work from home | 19.3%±7.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
10%±5.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Athens and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | Strafford School District | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 |
| 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.