Compare towns
Waterville vs Athens vs Belvidere
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Waterville has the oldest population (median age 49.1).
Athens has the most people working from home (19.3%).
Belvidere has the highest household income ($82k).
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 | Waterville | Athens | Belvidere |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 680Highest |
431 |
422Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9% VT: +2.8% |
— | — |
| Median age | 49.1±8.2Highest 14% above VT |
47.3±6.5 10% above VT |
40.7±6.5Lowest 6% below VT |
| Waterville and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.4%±8.2 VT: 17.9% |
13.9%±6.5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
22%±4Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Belvidere and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 14.4%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±4.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
8.8%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Athens and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.1% VT: 43.8% |
30.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
35.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±3.3Highest VT: 7% |
4.9%±3 VT: 7% |
1.4%±1.3Lowest VT: 7% |
| Waterville and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $71,250±$27k 12% below VT |
$68,438±$30kLowest 16% below VT |
$81,563±$18kHighest about the VT average |
| Belvidere and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $236,300±$15kLowest 25% below VT |
$240,400±$32kHighest 24% below VT |
$239,200±$51k 24% below VT |
| Athens and Belvidere are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,110±$93Lowest 10% below VT |
$1,125±$537 9% below VT |
$1,542±$1kHighest 25% above VT |
| Belvidere and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,957 21% below VT |
$5,438Highest 8% above VT |
$3,908Lowest 22% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±27.2 VT: 48.4% |
43.5%±39Lowest VT: 48.4% |
66.7%±53.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Belvidere and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
12.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.5% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9% VT: 73.2% |
73.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
86.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1989Highest 13 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 38 minHighest 60% above VT |
36 minLowest 53% above VT |
38 minHighest 60% above VT |
| Work from home | 8.5%±3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
19.3%±7.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
9.4%±7.6 VT: 16.9% |
| Athens and Belvidere are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A | — | — |
| High school 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.