What stands out worked out from the figures below

Athens has the most people working from home (19.3%).

Wayne has the highest household income ($91k).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Athens	Wayne
People
Population	431Lowest	1,033Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	-3.1% U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	47.3±6.5Lowest 22% above U.S.	62.6±3.6Highest 61% above U.S.
Kids under 18	13.9%±6.5Highest U.S.: 22%	12.3%±3Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Athens and Wayne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	21.6%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	40.1%±6Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	30.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	42.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.9%±3Highest U.S.: 6.4%	1%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$68,438±$30kLowest 15% below U.S.	$90,938±$17kHighest 13% above U.S.
	Wayne and Athens 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.	$266,700±$150kHighest 20% below U.S.
	Wayne and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,125±$537Highest 20% below U.S.	$1,031±$304Lowest 27% below U.S.
	Athens and Wayne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,438Highest 74% above U.S.	$3,967Lowest 27% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	43.5%±39Highest U.S.: 51.1%	38.9%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Athens and Wayne 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%	6.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	73.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	95.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1973Highest 7 yrs older than U.S.	1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	36 minHighest 36% above U.S.	28 minLowest 7% above U.S.
Work from home	19.3%±7.5Highest U.S.: 15.1%	9.3%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Athens and Wayne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.