Compare towns

Athens vs Washington vs Readsboro

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%).
Washington has the most homeowners (94.4%).
Readsboro has the most affordable homes ($216k 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.

MeasureAthensWashingtonReadsboro
People
Population
431Lowest
1,056Highest
807
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
-0.7%Highest
VT: +2.8%
-8%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
47.3±6.5Lowest
10% above VT
52.9±5.1Highest
23% above VT
50.7±3.9
18% above VT
Washington and Readsboro 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%
16.5%±4.2Highest
VT: 17.9%
6.9%±2.6Lowest
VT: 17.9%
Washington and Athens 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%
24.3%±4.6Highest
VT: 21.4%
20.6%±4.4Lowest
VT: 21.4%
Washington 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%
31%Highest
VT: 43.8%
26.7%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.9%±3Highest
VT: 7%
2.7%±2Lowest
VT: 7%
3.3%±1.8
VT: 7%
Athens and Readsboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$68,438±$30kHighest
16% below VT
$66,103±$8k
19% below VT
$55,268±$12kLowest
32% below VT
Athens and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$240,400±$32kHighest
24% below VT
$217,700±$37k
31% below VT
$215,500±$52kLowest
32% below VT
Athens and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,125±$537Highest
9% below VT
$996±$285
19% below VT
$724±$32Lowest
41% below VT
Athens and Washington 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
$3,485
31% below VT
$3,480Lowest
31% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
43.5%±39Highest
VT: 48.4%
34.5%±63.6
VT: 48.4%
17.4%±24.3Lowest
VT: 48.4%
Athens and Washington 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%
3.2%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
7.3%
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
73.7%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
94.4%Highest
VT: 73.2%
76.4%
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1973
3 yrs older than VT
1980Highest
4 yrs newer than VT
1972Lowest
4 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
36 minHighest
53% above VT
31 minLowest
31% above VT
32 min
35% above VT
Work from home
19.3%±7.5Highest
VT: 16.9%
14.9%±5.7
VT: 16.9%
7.8%±3.1Lowest
VT: 16.9%
Athens and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district — Echo Valley Community Union School District #67 Readsboro School District
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.