Compare towns
Athens vs Whiting vs Waterville vs Derby Line
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 people working from home (19.3%).
Whiting has the highest household income ($91k).
Waterville has the oldest population (median age 49.1).
Derby Line has the most affordable homes ($201k 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 | Whiting | Waterville | Derby Line |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 431Lowest |
532 |
680 |
783Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | +1.9%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+2.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.3±6.5 10% above VT |
39.6±2.7Lowest 8% below VT |
49.1±8.2Highest 14% above VT |
46.7±13.3 8% 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% |
23.5%±6.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
20.4%±8.2 VT: 17.9% |
22.6%±8.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Whiting and Derby Line are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.6%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
13%±5.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
14.4%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
24.9%±6.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Derby Line and Athens 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% |
25.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
32.1% VT: 43.8% |
35.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±3 VT: 7% |
6.2%±4Highest VT: 7% |
5.3%±3.3 VT: 7% |
3.4%±2.3Lowest VT: 7% |
| 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 16% below VT |
$91,250±$38kHighest 12% above VT |
$71,250±$27k 12% below VT |
$71,518±$25k 12% below VT |
| Whiting and Derby Line 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 |
$280,400±$36kHighest 11% below VT |
$236,300±$15k 25% below VT |
$201,000±$52kLowest 37% below VT |
| Whiting and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$537 9% below VT |
$1,204±$519Highest about the VT average |
$1,110±$93 10% below VT |
$835±$334Lowest 32% below VT |
| 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 8% above VT |
$4,227 16% below VT |
$3,957 21% below VT |
$3,275Lowest 35% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.5%±39 VT: 48.4% |
58.3%±37.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±27.2 VT: 48.4% |
35.4%±24.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| 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 VT: 10.1% |
11.5% VT: 10.1% |
4.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
7.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.7% VT: 73.2% |
65.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
79.9% VT: 73.2% |
83%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1975Highest 1 yr older than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1956Lowest 20 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 min 53% above VT |
22 minLowest 7% below VT |
38 minHighest 60% above VT |
24 min 3% above VT |
| Work from home | 19.3%±7.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
10%±5.4 VT: 16.9% |
8.5%±3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
13.5%±9.8 VT: 16.9% |
| Athens and Derby Line 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 Our Story | None yet | 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.