Compare towns
Wardsboro vs Athens vs Leicester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wardsboro has the most kids (18.8% under 18).
Athens has the most people working from home (19.3%).
Leicester has the most expensive homes ($310k 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 | Wardsboro | Athens | Leicester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 820 |
431Lowest |
1,026Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— | -10%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 51.6±7.3Highest 20% above VT |
47.3±6.5Lowest 10% above VT |
48.8±3.8 13% above VT |
| Wardsboro and Leicester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.8%±6.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
13.9%±6.5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
14.9%±5.1 VT: 17.9% |
| Wardsboro and Leicester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27.4%±3.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±4.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
24.5%±6.7 VT: 21.4% |
| Wardsboro and Leicester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 38.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
30.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
35.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.9%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
4.9%±3Highest VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.6 VT: 7% |
| Athens and Leicester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $62,000±$6kLowest 24% below VT |
$68,438±$30k 16% below VT |
$70,417±$30kHighest 13% below VT |
| Leicester and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $299,300±$47k 5% below VT |
$240,400±$32kLowest 24% below VT |
$309,700±$107kHighest about the VT average |
| Leicester and Wardsboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,479±$224Highest 20% above VT |
$1,125±$537 9% below VT |
$1,098±$300Lowest 11% below VT |
| Wardsboro and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,345 14% below VT |
$5,438Highest 8% above VT |
$3,822Lowest 24% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.5%±58Highest VT: 48.4% |
43.5%±39 VT: 48.4% |
33.3%±40.4Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Wardsboro and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.7%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
12.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
11.8% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
73.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
85.5% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 2 yrs newer than VT |
1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest 14% above VT |
36 minHighest 53% above VT |
28 min 20% above VT |
| Work from home | 13.3%±5.1 VT: 16.9% |
19.3%±7.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.7%±5.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Athens and Wardsboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | River Valleys Unified School District #73 | — | — |
| High school 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.