What stands out worked out from the figures below

White River Junction has the shortest commute (15 min average).

Athens has the most homeowners (73.7%).

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	White River Junction	Athens
People
Population	3,364Highest	431Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+10.8% VT: +2.8%	—
Median age	33.7±3.2Lowest 22% below VT	47.3±6.5Highest 10% above VT
Kids under 18	17.1%±5Highest VT: 17.9%	13.9%±6.5Lowest VT: 17.9%
	White River Junction and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	12.5%±3.6Lowest VT: 21.4%	21.6%±4.6Highest VT: 21.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	38.9%Highest VT: 43.8%	30.3%Lowest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.2%±1.1Lowest VT: 7%	4.9%±3Highest VT: 7%
	Athens and White River Junction are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$77,168±$4kHighest 5% below VT	$68,438±$30kLowest 16% below VT
	White River Junction and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$278,800±$78kHighest 12% below VT	$240,400±$32kLowest 24% below VT
	White River Junction and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,222±$216Highest about the VT average	$1,125±$537Lowest 9% below VT
	White River Junction and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,651Highest 12% above VT	$5,438Lowest 8% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	42.9%±17.3Lowest VT: 48.4%	43.5%±39Highest VT: 48.4%
	Athens and White River Junction are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	12.1% VT: 10.1%	12.1% VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	43.9%Lowest VT: 73.2%	73.7%Highest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1963Lowest 13 yrs older than VT	1973Highest 3 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	15 minLowest 35% below VT	36 minHighest 53% above VT
Work from home	15.7%±5.8Lowest VT: 16.9%	19.3%±7.5Highest VT: 16.9%
	Athens and White River Junction 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.