Compare towns

Athens vs Warner vs Waterville

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 people working from home (19.3%).
Warner has the most expensive homes ($353k median).
Waterville has the most kids (20.4% under 18).

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.

MeasureAthensWarnerWaterville
People
Population
431Lowest
2,959Highest
680
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
+3.7%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+1.9%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
47.3±6.5
22% above U.S.
43.7±4Lowest
12% above U.S.
49.1±8.2Highest
26% above U.S.
Waterville 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
U.S.: 22%
17.3%±3.3
U.S.: 22%
20.4%±8.2Highest
U.S.: 22%
Waterville and Warner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
21.6%±4.6Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
20.4%±3.5
U.S.: 17.2%
14.4%±3.5Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Athens and Warner 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
U.S.: 35.7%
42.4%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
32.1%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.9%±3Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.3%±1.6Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.3%±3.3Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$68,438±$30kLowest
15% below U.S.
$94,022±$18kHighest
16% above U.S.
$71,250±$27k
12% below U.S.
Warner and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$240,400±$32k
28% below U.S.
$353,100±$22kHighest
6% above U.S.
$236,300±$15kLowest
29% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,125±$537
20% below U.S.
$1,219±$123Highest
14% below U.S.
$1,110±$93Lowest
21% below U.S.
Warner and Athens 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.
$7,650Highest
145% above U.S.
$3,957Lowest
27% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
43.5%±39Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
48.7%±21.3Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
44.6%±27.2
U.S.: 51.1%
Warner 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
U.S.: 12.5%
8.4%
U.S.: 12.5%
4.9%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
73.7%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
74.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
79.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1973
7 yrs older than U.S.
1975Highest
5 yrs older than U.S.
1972Lowest
8 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
36 min
36% above U.S.
32 minLowest
20% above U.S.
38 minHighest
42% above U.S.
Work from home
19.3%±7.5Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
16.6%±4.8
U.S.: 15.1%
8.5%±3Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Athens and Warner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district — Kearsarge Regional School District 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

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.