Compare towns
Athens vs Webster vs Readsboro
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%).
Webster has the most kids (22.6% under 18).
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.
| Measure | Athens | Webster | Readsboro |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 431Lowest |
2,227Highest |
807 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +2.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.3±6.5 22% above U.S. |
44.7±7.6Lowest 15% above U.S. |
50.7±3.9Highest 30% above U.S. |
| Readsboro and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.9%±6.5 U.S.: 22% |
22.6%±8Highest U.S.: 22% |
6.9%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Webster and Athens 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% |
19.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±4.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Athens and Readsboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
30.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
26.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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±$30k 15% below U.S. |
$107,171±$14kHighest 33% above U.S. |
$55,268±$12kLowest 32% below U.S. |
| Webster 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±$32k 28% below U.S. |
$338,500±$30kHighest about the U.S. average |
$215,500±$52kLowest 35% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$537 20% below U.S. |
$1,396±$622Highest about the U.S. average |
$724±$32Lowest 49% below U.S. |
| Webster 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. |
$6,021Highest 93% above U.S. |
$3,480Lowest 12% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.5%±39 U.S.: 51.1% |
53.6%±71Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
17.4%±24.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Webster and Athens 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% |
9.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
76.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 36% above U.S. |
31 minLowest 16% above U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.3%±7.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.1%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
7.8%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Athens and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | Merrimack Valley School District | 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 |
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.