Compare towns
Athens vs Stratton vs Cornwall vs Waterville
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Stratton has the most kids (28% under 18).
Cornwall has the shortest commute (24 min average).
Waterville has the most affordable homes ($236k 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.
| Measure | Athens | Stratton | Cornwall | Waterville |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 431Lowest |
532 |
1,208Highest |
680 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | +1.9% VT: +2.8% |
+1.9% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.3±6.5 10% above VT |
31.5±4.1Lowest 27% below VT |
50.4±4.6Highest 17% above VT |
49.1±8.2 14% above VT |
| Cornwall and Waterville 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% |
28%±7.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.7%±3 VT: 17.9% |
20.4%±8.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Stratton and Waterville 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% |
11.7%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
25.7%±6.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
14.4%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
| Cornwall 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%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
33.2% VT: 43.8% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
32.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±3 VT: 7% |
1.3%±2.8Lowest VT: 7% |
3.7%±3.1 VT: 7% |
5.3%±3.3Highest VT: 7% |
| Waterville 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 |
$122,708±$33kHighest 51% above VT |
$114,583±$32k 41% above VT |
$71,250±$27k 12% below VT |
| Stratton and Cornwall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $240,400±$32k 24% below VT |
$400,000±$50k 26% above VT |
$458,000±$49kHighest 45% above VT |
$236,300±$15kLowest 25% below VT |
| Cornwall and Stratton 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 |
$1,208±$979Highest about the VT average |
$1,125±$206 9% below VT |
$1,110±$93Lowest 10% below VT |
| Stratton 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 |
$4,750 6% below VT |
$6,726Highest 33% above VT |
$3,957Lowest 21% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.5%±39 VT: 48.4% |
12%±69.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
61.9%±65.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±27.2 VT: 48.4% |
| Cornwall and Waterville 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% |
0%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
0.8% VT: 10.1% |
4.9% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.7% VT: 73.2% |
73.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
94.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1988Highest 12 yrs newer than VT |
1976 same as VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 min 53% above VT |
33 min 39% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
38 minHighest 60% above VT |
| Work from home | 19.3%±7.5 VT: 16.9% |
3.3%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
24.4%±6.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
8.5%±3 VT: 16.9% |
| Cornwall and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | — | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A |
| High school in town | — | — | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.