Compare towns
Whiting vs Bloomfield vs Hancock 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 shortest commute (22 min average).
Bloomfield has the most kids (27.4% under 18).
Hancock has the youngest population (median age 33.8).
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.
| Measure | Whiting | Bloomfield | Hancock | Athens |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 532Highest |
234Lowest |
435 |
431 |
| Median age | 39.6±2.7 8% below VT |
41.9±12 about the VT average |
33.8±11.6Lowest 22% below VT |
47.3±6.5Highest 10% above VT |
| Athens and Bloomfield 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% |
27.4%±14.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
17.2%±5.8 VT: 17.9% |
13.9%±6.5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Bloomfield and Whiting 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% |
25.2%±8Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.8%±3.6 VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
| Bloomfield 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% |
32.7% VT: 43.8% |
34.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
30.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±4Highest VT: 7% |
0.9%±4.5Lowest VT: 7% |
3.7%±3.6 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 |
$54,375±$17kLowest 33% below VT |
$76,250±$34k 6% below VT |
$68,438±$30k 16% below VT |
| Whiting and Hancock 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 |
$190,600±$63k 40% below VT |
$187,900±$11kLowest 41% below VT |
$240,400±$32k 24% below VT |
| Whiting and Athens 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 |
— | $939±$19Lowest 24% 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 | $4,227 16% below VT |
$2,800Lowest 44% below VT |
$3,511 30% below VT |
$5,438Highest 8% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58.3%±37.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
— | 3.5%±16.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
43.5%±39 VT: 48.4% |
| Whiting and Athens 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% |
2.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
5.6% VT: 10.1% |
12.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 65.4% VT: 73.2% |
83.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
59.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
73.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 1 yr older than VT |
1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 7% below VT |
30 min 28% above VT |
28 min 17% above VT |
36 minHighest 53% above VT |
| Work from home | 10%±5.4 VT: 16.9% |
4.6%±4.2Lowest VT: 16.9% |
11.7%±5 VT: 16.9% |
19.3%±7.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Athens and Hancock 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 | — | — | — |
| High school 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.