Compare towns
Waterville vs Athens vs Hyde Park
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%).
Hyde Park has the shortest commute (26 min average).
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 | Hyde Park |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 680Highest |
431Lowest |
513 |
| 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 |
42.6±10.1Lowest about the VT average |
| 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% |
22.6%±6.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Hyde Park and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 14.4%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±4.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
16.4%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
| Athens and Hyde Park 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% |
41%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±3.3Highest VT: 7% |
4.9%±3 VT: 7% |
2.1%±2Lowest 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 |
$89,946±$10kHighest 11% above VT |
| Hyde Park 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±$15k 25% below VT |
$240,400±$32kHighest 24% below VT |
$221,800±$57kLowest 30% below VT |
| Athens and Waterville 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 |
$1,306±$285Highest 6% above VT |
| Hyde Park 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 |
$3,893Lowest 23% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±27.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
43.5%±39 VT: 48.4% |
42.1%±47.5Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Waterville and Athens 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% |
6.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
73.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
79.6% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1973Highest 3 yrs older than VT |
1964Lowest 12 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 38 minHighest 60% above VT |
36 min 53% above VT |
26 minLowest 11% above VT |
| Work from home | 8.5%±3 VT: 16.9% |
19.3%±7.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
7.9%±5.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | — | #59 of 70 in VT |
| 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.