Compare towns
Cavendish vs Athens vs Lincoln
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Cavendish has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Athens has the most affordable homes ($240k median).
Lincoln has the most expensive homes ($365k 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 | Cavendish | Athens | Lincoln |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,242 |
431Lowest |
1,394Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— | +4.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.2±5.9Lowest 5% above VT |
47.3±6.5Highest 10% above VT |
45.7±3.6 6% above VT |
| Athens and Lincoln are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.3%±4.8Highest VT: 17.9% |
13.9%±6.5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
15.1%±3.7 VT: 17.9% |
| Cavendish and Lincoln are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 23.6%±2Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±4.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.3%±3 VT: 21.4% |
| Cavendish and Lincoln are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.3% VT: 43.8% |
30.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
43.5%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.9 VT: 7% |
4.9%±3Highest VT: 7% |
2.9%±2.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Athens and Cavendish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $89,063±$29k 10% above VT |
$68,438±$30kLowest 16% below VT |
$96,667±$18kHighest 19% above VT |
| Lincoln and Cavendish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $285,100±$40k 10% below VT |
$240,400±$32kLowest 24% below VT |
$365,200±$30kHighest 15% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,000±$546 19% below VT |
$1,125±$537Highest 9% below VT |
$870±$47Lowest 29% below VT |
| Athens and Cavendish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,948Lowest 22% below VT |
$5,438 8% above VT |
$6,100Highest 21% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 28.9%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
43.5%±39 VT: 48.4% |
49.1%±25.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Lincoln and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
12.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7.5% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.3% VT: 73.2% |
73.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
88.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Lowest 8 yrs older than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1977Highest 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 21% below VT |
36 minHighest 53% above VT |
30 min 26% above VT |
| Work from home | 18.5%±6.6Lowest VT: 16.9% |
19.3%±7.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
18.8%±5.6 VT: 16.9% |
| Athens and Lincoln are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | — | Lincoln Town School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.