Compare towns

Whiting vs Barnet vs Athens

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Whiting has the highest household income ($91k).
Barnet has the most homeowners (79.9%).
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.

MeasureWhitingBarnetAthens
People
Population
532
1,855Highest
431Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
-2.6%
VT: +2.8%
—
Median age
39.6±2.7Lowest
8% below VT
47.7±5.3Highest
11% above VT
47.3±6.5
10% above VT
Barnet and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
23.5%±6.9Highest
VT: 17.9%
21.6%±4.9
VT: 17.9%
13.9%±6.5Lowest
VT: 17.9%
Whiting and Barnet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
13%±5.1Lowest
VT: 21.4%
28.8%±3.8Highest
VT: 21.4%
21.6%±4.6
VT: 21.4%
Barnet and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
25.9%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
35.6%Highest
VT: 43.8%
30.3%
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
6.2%±4Highest
VT: 7%
1%±0.9Lowest
VT: 7%
4.9%±3
VT: 7%
Whiting and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$91,250±$38kHighest
12% above VT
$67,386±$15kLowest
17% below VT
$68,438±$30k
16% below VT
Whiting and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$280,400±$36kHighest
11% below VT
$247,900±$24k
22% below VT
$240,400±$32kLowest
24% below VT
Whiting and Barnet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,204±$519Highest
about the VT average
$974±$72Lowest
21% below VT
$1,125±$537
9% below VT
Whiting and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,227Lowest
16% below VT
$4,489
11% below VT
$5,438Highest
8% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
58.3%±37.3
VT: 48.4%
59.3%±29.9Highest
VT: 48.4%
43.5%±39Lowest
VT: 48.4%
Barnet and Whiting are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
11.5%
VT: 10.1%
8.2%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
12.1%Highest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
65.4%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
79.9%Highest
VT: 73.2%
73.7%
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1975Highest
1 yr older than VT
1974
2 yrs older than VT
1973Lowest
3 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
22 minLowest
7% below VT
28 min
17% above VT
36 minHighest
53% above VT
Work from home
10%±5.4Lowest
VT: 16.9%
13.3%±4.5
VT: 16.9%
19.3%±7.5Highest
VT: 16.9%
Athens and Barnet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 —
High school in town None 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.