Compare towns
Athens vs Sutton vs Whiting vs Westminster
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Athens has the most affordable homes ($240k median).
Sutton has the highest household income ($130k).
Whiting has the youngest population (median age 39.6).
Westminster has the most people working from home (27%).
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 | Sutton | Whiting | Westminster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 431Lowest |
2,239 |
532 |
2,999Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +7.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -5.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.3±6.5 22% above U.S. |
48.1±4.1 24% above U.S. |
39.6±2.7Lowest about the U.S. average |
53.5±3.7Highest 38% above U.S. |
| Westminster and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 13.9%±6.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±3.8 U.S.: 22% |
23.5%±6.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Whiting and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.6%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.6%±5.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
13%±5.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.6%±6.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Westminster 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
44.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
25.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±3 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±3.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Whiting 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 15% below U.S. |
$130,313±$31kHighest 61% above U.S. |
$91,250±$38k 13% above U.S. |
$71,491±$4k 11% below U.S. |
| Sutton 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 28% below U.S. |
$362,600±$16kHighest 9% above U.S. |
$280,400±$36k 16% below U.S. |
$273,800±$35k 18% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$537 20% below U.S. |
$1,656±$614Highest 17% above U.S. |
$1,204±$519 15% below U.S. |
$916±$126Lowest 35% below U.S. |
| Sutton and Whiting are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,438 74% above U.S. |
$7,652Highest 145% above U.S. |
$4,227 36% above U.S. |
$4,063Lowest 30% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.5%±39 U.S.: 51.1% |
27.6%±47.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
58.3%±37.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
49.2%±7.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Whiting and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 12.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
65.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 36% above U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
24 min 10% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.3%±7.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.8%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
27%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Westminster 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 | — | — | — | #53 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | Kearsarge Regional School District | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 | Bellows Falls Union High School District #27 · Westminster School District |
| High school in town | — | Kearsarge Regional High School | None in town | Bellows Falls Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.4Lowest |
— | 10.6Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.