Compare towns
Orleans vs Athens vs Barton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Orleans has the oldest housing (typical home built 1938).
Athens has the most expensive homes ($240k median).
Barton has the most kids (24.1% under 18).
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 | Orleans | Athens | Barton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 809Highest |
431Lowest |
730 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— | -6.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 41.7±5.8 3% below VT |
47.3±6.5Highest 10% above VT |
40±5.5Lowest 7% below VT |
| Athens and Orleans are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.9%±4.5 VT: 17.9% |
13.9%±6.5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
24.1%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Barton and Orleans are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.7%±3.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±4.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.2%±4.2 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+ | 24.8% VT: 43.8% |
30.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
21.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.1 VT: 7% |
4.9%±3Highest VT: 7% |
1.9%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
| Athens and Orleans are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $57,159±$10k 30% below VT |
$68,438±$30kHighest 16% below VT |
$40,833±$8kLowest 50% below VT |
| Athens and Orleans are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $156,300±$18k 51% below VT |
$240,400±$32kHighest 24% below VT |
$146,900±$30kLowest 54% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $810±$94 34% below VT |
$1,125±$537Highest 9% below VT |
$761±$150Lowest 38% below VT |
| Athens and Orleans are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,019Lowest 40% below VT |
$5,438Highest 8% above VT |
$3,185 37% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.3%±17.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
43.5%±39 VT: 48.4% |
58.8%±18.2Highest 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 | 8.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
12.1% VT: 10.1% |
25.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.1% VT: 73.2% |
73.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
52.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1973Highest 3 yrs older than VT |
1945 31 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 33% above VT |
36 minHighest 53% above VT |
31 minLowest 32% above VT |
| Work from home | 8.3%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
19.3%±7.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.5%±10.4 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 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.