What stands out worked out from the figures below

Wayne has the highest household income ($91k).

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	Wayne	Athens
People
Population	1,033Highest	431Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-3.1% U.S.: +7.4%	—
Median age	62.6±3.6Highest 61% above U.S.	47.3±6.5Lowest 22% above U.S.
Kids under 18	12.3%±3Lowest U.S.: 22%	13.9%±6.5Highest U.S.: 22%
	Athens and Wayne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	40.1%±6Highest U.S.: 17.2%	21.6%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	42.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	30.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	4.9%±3Highest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$90,938±$17kHighest 13% above U.S.	$68,438±$30kLowest 15% below U.S.
	Wayne and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$266,700±$150kHighest 20% below U.S.	$240,400±$32kLowest 28% below U.S.
	Wayne and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,031±$304Lowest 27% below U.S.	$1,125±$537Highest 20% below U.S.
	Athens and Wayne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,967Lowest 27% above U.S.	$5,438Highest 74% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	38.9%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	43.5%±39Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Athens and Wayne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	12.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	95.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	73.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S.	1973Highest 7 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minLowest 7% above U.S.	36 minHighest 36% above U.S.
Work from home	9.3%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	19.3%±7.5Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Athens and Wayne 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

U.S. 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.