Compare towns
Athens vs Westminster vs Waterville
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Athens has the most renters (26.3% rent).
Westminster has the most kids (28.4% under 18).
Waterville has the oldest population (median age 49.1).
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 | Westminster | Waterville |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 431Lowest |
497 |
680Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | +1.9% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.3±6.5 10% above VT |
43.3±11.5Lowest about the VT average |
49.1±8.2Highest 14% above VT |
| Waterville and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.9%±6.5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
28.4%±7.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
20.4%±8.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Westminster and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.6%±4.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.7%±11.4 VT: 21.4% |
14.4%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Athens and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
45.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
32.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±3 VT: 7% |
2.2%±3.5Lowest VT: 7% |
5.3%±3.3Highest VT: 7% |
| Waterville 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 16% below VT |
$81,000±$22kHighest about the VT average |
$71,250±$27k 12% below VT |
| Westminster and Waterville 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 |
$313,600±$39kHighest about the VT average |
$236,300±$15kLowest 25% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$537Highest 9% below VT |
$749±$315Lowest 39% below VT |
$1,110±$93 10% below VT |
| Athens and Waterville 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 |
$4,480 11% below VT |
$3,957Lowest 21% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.5%±39 VT: 48.4% |
6.1%±43.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±27.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Waterville 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 VT: 10.1% |
2.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
4.9% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
80.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Highest 3 yrs older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 min 53% above VT |
30 minLowest 26% above VT |
38 minHighest 60% above VT |
| Work from home | 19.3%±7.5 VT: 16.9% |
23.1%±15.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
8.5%±3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Westminster and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #53 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | — | — | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A |
| High school in town | — | — | None in town |
| 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.