What stands out worked out from the figures below

Barton has the most kids (24.1% under 18).

Athens has the highest household income ($68k).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Barton	Athens
People
Population	730Highest	431Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-6.4% VT: +2.8%	—
Median age	40±5.5Lowest 7% below VT	47.3±6.5Highest 10% above VT
	Athens and Barton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	24.1%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9%	13.9%±6.5Lowest VT: 17.9%
	Barton and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	21.2%±4.2Lowest VT: 21.4%	21.6%±4.6Highest VT: 21.4%
	Athens and Barton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	21.7%Lowest VT: 43.8%	30.3%Highest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.9%±1.6Lowest VT: 7%	4.9%±3Highest VT: 7%
	Athens and Barton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$40,833±$8kLowest 50% below VT	$68,438±$30kHighest 16% below VT
	Athens and Barton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$146,900±$30kLowest 54% below VT	$240,400±$32kHighest 24% below VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$761±$150Lowest 38% below VT	$1,125±$537Highest 9% below VT
	Athens and Barton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,185Lowest 37% below VT	$5,438Highest 8% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	58.8%±18.2Highest VT: 48.4%	43.5%±39Lowest VT: 48.4%
	Barton and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	25.8%Highest VT: 10.1%	12.1%Lowest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	52.7%Lowest VT: 73.2%	73.7%Highest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1945Lowest 31 yrs older than VT	1973Highest 3 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minLowest 32% above VT	36 minHighest 53% above VT
Work from home	16.5%±10.4Lowest VT: 16.9%	19.3%±7.5Highest VT: 16.9%
	Athens and Barton 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	#38 of 70 in VT	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.