Compare towns
Athens vs Windham vs Middlesex vs Readsboro
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).
Windham has the shortest commute (27 min average).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
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 | Windham | Middlesex | Readsboro |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 431Lowest |
594 |
1,943Highest |
807 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | +2.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.3±6.5 10% above VT |
44.2±7.4Lowest about the VT average |
44.4±3.9 3% above VT |
50.7±3.9Highest 18% above VT |
| 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 VT: 17.9% |
17.5%±7.9 VT: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
6.9%±2.6Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Middlesex and Windham 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% |
23.2%±8.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±3.7Lowest VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±4.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Windham 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% |
48.1% VT: 43.8% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
26.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±3 VT: 7% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
3.3%±1.8 VT: 7% |
| Middlesex 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±$30k 16% below VT |
$94,500±$12k 16% above VT |
$109,632±$13kHighest 35% above VT |
$55,268±$12kLowest 32% below VT |
| Middlesex and Windham 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 |
$353,900±$20k 12% above VT |
$376,300±$40kHighest 19% above VT |
$215,500±$52kLowest 32% below VT |
| Middlesex and Windham 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 |
— | $1,333±$359Highest 8% above VT |
$724±$32Lowest 41% below VT |
| Middlesex and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,438 8% above VT |
$5,951 18% above VT |
$6,483Highest 29% above VT |
$3,480Lowest 31% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.5%±39Highest VT: 48.4% |
41.2%±94 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
17.4%±24.3 VT: 48.4% |
| Athens and Windham 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% |
9.9% VT: 10.1% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
7.3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
82.9% VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
76.4% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 53% above VT |
27 minLowest 14% above VT |
27 min 17% above VT |
32 min 35% above VT |
| Work from home | 19.3%±7.5 VT: 16.9% |
20.5%±5.6 VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
7.8%±3.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Middlesex and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | — | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | 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 | 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.