Compare towns
Athens vs Wayne vs Whiting vs Townshend
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).
Wayne has the most homeowners (95.8%).
Whiting has the most kids (23.5% under 18).
Townshend has the most people working from home (28%).
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 | Wayne | Whiting | Townshend |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 431Lowest |
1,033 |
532 |
1,538Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +4.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.3±6.5 22% above U.S. |
62.6±3.6Highest 61% above U.S. |
39.6±2.7Lowest about the U.S. average |
55.6±9.6 43% above U.S. |
| Wayne and Townshend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 13.9%±6.5 U.S.: 22% |
12.3%±3 U.S.: 22% |
23.5%±6.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
12%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Whiting 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
40.1%±6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
13%±5.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.3%±6.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
42.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
25.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
52.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±3 U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.4%±0.8 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. |
$90,938±$17k 13% above U.S. |
$91,250±$38kHighest 13% above U.S. |
$78,750±$29k about the U.S. average |
| Whiting and Wayne 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±$150k 20% below U.S. |
$280,400±$36k 16% below U.S. |
$287,200±$79kHighest 14% below U.S. |
| Townshend and Whiting are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$537 20% below U.S. |
$1,031±$304Lowest 27% below U.S. |
$1,204±$519Highest 15% below U.S. |
$1,074±$80 24% below U.S. |
| Whiting and Athens 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. |
$4,227 36% above U.S. |
$5,364 72% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.5%±39 U.S.: 51.1% |
38.9%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
58.3%±37.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
72.5%±23.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Townshend and Whiting 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% |
11.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
65.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.6% 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. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 36% above U.S. |
28 min 7% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
25 min 5% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.3%±7.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.3%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±5.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
28%±18.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Townshend and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | — | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 | West River Valley Union Education District #72B · West River Valley Union Education District #72A |
| High school in town | — | — | None in town | Leland & Gray Union Middle & High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 8.1 |
| 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.