Compare towns
Athens vs Sutton vs Wheelock 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 renters (26.3% rent).
Sutton has the youngest population (median age 46.6).
Wheelock has the most affordable homes ($190k median).
Grafton has the most expensive homes ($343k 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 | Sutton | Wheelock | Grafton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 431Lowest |
790Highest |
717 |
666 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -11.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-6.4% VT: +2.8% |
-5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.3±6.5 10% above VT |
46.6±5.7Lowest 8% above VT |
51±5.6 18% above VT |
59.2±4.4Highest 37% above VT |
| Grafton and Wheelock 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% |
17.3%±3.4 VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
5.9%±3.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Wheelock and Sutton 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% |
21.6%±2.7Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29.4%±4.7 VT: 21.4% |
34.2%±2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Grafton and Wheelock 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% |
32.8% VT: 43.8% |
34.9% VT: 43.8% |
48.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±3 VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.8Lowest VT: 7% |
2.8%±2.3 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±$30k 16% below VT |
$71,250±$18k 12% below VT |
$64,792±$20kLowest 20% below VT |
$76,111±$7kHighest 6% below VT |
| Grafton and Sutton 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 |
$231,100±$41k 27% below VT |
$189,600±$37kLowest 40% below VT |
$343,200±$85kHighest 8% above VT |
| Grafton and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$537Lowest 9% 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 | $5,438Highest 8% above VT |
$3,975 21% below VT |
$2,937Lowest 42% below VT |
$4,843 4% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.5%±39 VT: 48.4% |
37.8%±31.1 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
53.8%±69.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Grafton and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 12.1% VT: 10.1% |
12.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.7% VT: 10.1% |
4.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
85% VT: 73.2% |
97.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
89.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1989Highest 13 yrs newer than VT |
1978 2 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 53% above VT |
30 min 26% above VT |
28 min 17% above VT |
24 minLowest 4% above VT |
| Work from home | 19.3%±7.5 VT: 16.9% |
11.6%±5.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
21.1%±16Highest VT: 16.9% |
15.8%±5.4 VT: 16.9% |
| Wheelock and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 | — | 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 | 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.