Compare towns
Athens vs Whiting vs Worcester
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 affordable homes ($240k median).
Whiting has the most kids (23.5% under 18).
Worcester has the most people working from home (23.6%).
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 | Worcester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 431Lowest |
532 |
831Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | -3.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.3±6.5Highest 10% above VT |
39.6±2.7Lowest 8% below VT |
47±2.7 9% above VT |
| Athens and Worcester 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% |
23.5%±6.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Whiting 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 VT: 21.4% |
13%±5.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±2.5 VT: 21.4% |
| Athens and Worcester 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% |
53%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±3Lowest VT: 7% |
6.2%±4 VT: 7% |
6.9%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
| Worcester and Whiting 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 |
$73,833±$18k 9% below VT |
| Whiting and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $240,400±$32kLowest 24% below VT |
$280,400±$36kHighest 11% below VT |
$271,100±$27k 14% below VT |
| Whiting and Worcester 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 |
$1,023±$136Lowest 17% 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 |
$4,227Lowest 16% below VT |
$4,421 12% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.5%±39 VT: 48.4% |
58.3%±37.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
25.5%±37Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Whiting 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% |
11.5% VT: 10.1% |
5.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.7% VT: 73.2% |
65.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
85.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
1975 1 yr older than VT |
1976Highest same as VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 53% above VT |
22 minLowest 7% below VT |
29 min 22% above VT |
| Work from home | 19.3%±7.5 VT: 16.9% |
10%±5.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.6%±4.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Worcester and Athens 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 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.