Compare towns
Athens vs West Burke vs Vershire
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
West Burke has the oldest population (median age 59.2).
Vershire has the most kids (19.1% under 18).
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 | West Burke | Vershire |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 431 |
161Lowest |
842Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | -7.9% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.3±6.5 10% above VT |
59.2±16.3Highest 37% above VT |
45.7±9.3Lowest 6% above VT |
| West Burke 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 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±10.4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
19.1%±4.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Vershire and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.6%±4.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
31.1%±13.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
22.2%±5 VT: 21.4% |
| West Burke and Vershire 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% |
28.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
31.8%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±3Lowest VT: 7% |
5%±3.3 VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
| Vershire and West Burke 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 16% below VT |
$27,321±$15kLowest 66% below VT |
$71,618±$12kHighest 12% below VT |
| Vershire 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 24% below VT |
$275,000±$60kHighest 13% below VT |
$209,100±$55kLowest 34% below VT |
| West Burke 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 9% below VT |
$525±$373Lowest 57% below VT |
$1,117±$80 9% below VT |
| Athens and Vershire 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 |
$3,194Lowest 37% below VT |
$4,640 8% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.5%±39Lowest VT: 48.4% |
77.8%±31.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
77.8%±24.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Below poverty line | 12.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
20.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
19.5% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.7% VT: 73.2% |
61.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
81.5%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1985Highest 9 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 53% above VT |
25 minLowest 7% above VT |
32 min 38% above VT |
| Work from home | 19.3%±7.5 VT: 16.9% |
20%±10.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.3%±4.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| West Burke and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.