Compare towns
Danby vs Athens vs Wells
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Danby has the shortest commute (30 min average).
Athens has the most people working from home (19.3%).
Wells has the most homeowners (93.4%).
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 | Danby | Athens | Wells |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,133 |
431Lowest |
1,148Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— | +5.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 52.6±4.8Highest 22% above VT |
47.3±6.5Lowest 10% above VT |
50.7±5.2 18% above VT |
| Danby and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.6%±3.4 VT: 17.9% |
13.9%±6.5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
15.1%±4.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Wells and Danby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.3%±2.6 VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±4.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
24.5%±2.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Wells and Danby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.8%Highest VT: 43.8% |
30.3% VT: 43.8% |
29.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.9Lowest VT: 7% |
4.9%±3Highest VT: 7% |
3%±2.1 VT: 7% |
| Athens and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $77,321±$13kHighest 5% below VT |
$68,438±$30kLowest 16% below VT |
$75,417±$11k 7% below VT |
| Danby and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $272,400±$41kHighest 14% below VT |
$240,400±$32kLowest 24% below VT |
$243,000±$42k 23% below VT |
| Danby and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $794±$166Lowest 36% below VT |
$1,125±$537 9% below VT |
$1,313±$282Highest 6% above VT |
| Wells and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,543 10% below VT |
$5,438Highest 8% above VT |
$3,308Lowest 34% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.4%±34.6Lowest VT: 48.4% |
43.5%±39 VT: 48.4% |
62.5%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Wells and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.4%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
12.1% VT: 10.1% |
15.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.3% VT: 73.2% |
73.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
93.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minLowest 26% above VT |
36 min 53% above VT |
48 minHighest 102% above VT |
| Work from home | 12.1%±5.1 VT: 16.9% |
19.3%±7.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
11.3%±6.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Athens and Danby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | — | Wells Spring Unified Union School District #69 |
| 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.