Compare towns
Athens vs Wayne vs Whiting 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%).
Wayne has the oldest population (median age 62.6).
Whiting has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Waterville has the most affordable homes ($236k 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 | Wayne | Whiting | Waterville |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 431Lowest |
1,033Highest |
532 |
680 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +1.9%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 |
49.1±8.2 26% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 13.9%±6.5 U.S.: 22% |
12.3%±3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.5%±6.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.4%±8.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Whiting and Waterville 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% |
14.4%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
42.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
25.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.1% 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% |
5.3%±3.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Whiting and Waterville 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. |
$71,250±$27k 12% below U.S. |
| 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±$32k 28% below U.S. |
$266,700±$150k 20% below U.S. |
$280,400±$36kHighest 16% below U.S. |
$236,300±$15kLowest 29% below U.S. |
| Whiting and Wayne 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. |
$1,110±$93 21% 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. |
$3,967 27% above U.S. |
$4,227 36% above U.S. |
$3,957Lowest 27% 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%±37.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±27.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Whiting 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% |
6.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.9%Lowest 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% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 min 36% above U.S. |
28 min 7% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
38 minHighest 42% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.3%±7.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.3%±4.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±5.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.5%±3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Athens and Whiting 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 | 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 | 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.