Compare towns

Whiting vs Barnet vs Athens vs Stratton

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 shortest commute (22 min average).
Barnet has the most homeowners (79.9%).
Athens has the most people working from home (19.3%).
Stratton has the most expensive homes ($400k median).

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.

MeasureWhitingBarnetAthensStratton
People
Population
532
1,855Highest
431Lowest
532
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
-2.6%
VT: +2.8%
— —
Median age
39.6±2.7
8% below VT
47.7±5.3Highest
11% above VT
47.3±6.5
10% above VT
31.5±4.1Lowest
27% below 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%±6.9
VT: 17.9%
21.6%±4.9
VT: 17.9%
13.9%±6.5Lowest
VT: 17.9%
28%±7.4Highest
VT: 17.9%
Stratton and Whiting are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
13%±5.1
VT: 21.4%
28.8%±3.8Highest
VT: 21.4%
21.6%±4.6
VT: 21.4%
11.7%±4Lowest
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%
33.2%
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
6.2%±4Highest
VT: 7%
1%±0.9Lowest
VT: 7%
4.9%±3
VT: 7%
1.3%±2.8
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±$38k
12% above VT
$67,386±$15kLowest
17% below VT
$68,438±$30k
16% below VT
$122,708±$33kHighest
51% above VT
Stratton and Whiting are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$280,400±$36k
11% below VT
$247,900±$24k
22% below VT
$240,400±$32kLowest
24% below VT
$400,000±$50kHighest
26% above VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,204±$519
about the VT average
$974±$72Lowest
21% below VT
$1,125±$537
9% below VT
$1,208±$979Highest
about the VT average
Stratton and Whiting 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
$4,750
6% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
58.3%±37.3
VT: 48.4%
59.3%±29.9Highest
VT: 48.4%
43.5%±39
VT: 48.4%
12%±69.8Lowest
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%
VT: 10.1%
12.1%Highest
VT: 10.1%
0%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
65.4%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
79.9%Highest
VT: 73.2%
73.7%
VT: 73.2%
73.3%
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1975
1 yr older than VT
1974
2 yrs older than VT
1973Lowest
3 yrs older than VT
1988Highest
12 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
22 minLowest
7% below VT
28 min
17% above VT
36 minHighest
53% above VT
33 min
39% above VT
Work from home
10%±5.4
VT: 16.9%
13.3%±4.5
VT: 16.9%
19.3%±7.5Highest
VT: 16.9%
3.3%±3.5Lowest
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 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.