What stands out worked out from the figures below

Brookline has the most kids (20% under 18).

Athens has the most affordable homes ($240k 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.

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

Measure	Brookline	Athens
People
Population	531Highest	431Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+1.9% VT: +2.8%	—
Median age	45.1±2.7Lowest 5% above VT	47.3±6.5Highest 10% above VT
	Athens and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	20%±6Highest VT: 17.9%	13.9%±6.5Lowest VT: 17.9%
	Brookline and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19.6%±4.2Lowest VT: 21.4%	21.6%±4.6Highest VT: 21.4%
	Athens and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	41.1%Highest VT: 43.8%	30.3%Lowest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.2%±1.6Lowest VT: 7%	4.9%±3Highest VT: 7%
	Athens and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$80,833±$16kHighest about the VT average	$68,438±$30kLowest 16% below VT
	Brookline and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$290,700±$37kHighest 8% below VT	$240,400±$32kLowest 24% below VT
	Brookline and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,732±$232Highest 40% above VT	$1,125±$537Lowest 9% below VT
	Brookline and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,000Lowest about the VT average	$5,438Highest 8% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	47.8%±94.7Highest VT: 48.4%	43.5%±39Lowest VT: 48.4%
	Brookline and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6.2%Lowest VT: 10.1%	12.1%Highest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	84.9%Highest VT: 73.2%	73.7%Lowest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1975Highest 1 yr older than VT	1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minLowest 21% above VT	36 minHighest 53% above VT
Work from home	20.6%±5.2Highest VT: 16.9%	19.3%±7.5Lowest VT: 16.9%
	Brookline and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.