What stands out worked out from the figures below

Ryegate has the most kids (23.2% under 18).

Athens has the most people working from home (19.3%).

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	Ryegate	Athens
People
Population	1,059Highest	431Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-0.8% VT: +2.8%	—
Median age	41.2±2.6Lowest 4% below VT	47.3±6.5Highest 10% above VT
	Athens and Ryegate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	23.2%±4.6Highest VT: 17.9%	13.9%±6.5Lowest VT: 17.9%
	Ryegate and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	22.1%±1.5Highest VT: 21.4%	21.6%±4.6Lowest VT: 21.4%
	Ryegate and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	29.1%Lowest VT: 43.8%	30.3%Highest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.4%±1.4Lowest VT: 7%	4.9%±3Highest VT: 7%
	Athens and Ryegate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$66,484±$15kLowest 18% below VT	$68,438±$30kHighest 16% below VT
	Athens and Ryegate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$219,300±$32kLowest 31% below VT	$240,400±$32kHighest 24% below VT
	Athens and Ryegate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$908±$236Lowest 26% below VT	$1,125±$537Highest 9% below VT
	Athens and Ryegate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,472Lowest 31% below VT	$5,438Highest 8% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	55.9%±29.7Highest VT: 48.4%	43.5%±39Lowest VT: 48.4%
	Ryegate and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	14.5%Highest VT: 10.1%	12.1%Lowest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	84.7%Highest VT: 73.2%	73.7%Lowest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1949Lowest 27 yrs older than VT	1973Highest 3 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minLowest 18% above VT	36 minHighest 53% above VT
Work from home	8.2%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9%	19.3%±7.5Highest VT: 16.9%
	Athens and Ryegate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
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.