Compare towns
Whiting vs Brighton 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).
Brighton has the most affordable homes ($164k median).
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 | Brighton | Athens |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 532 |
1,167Highest |
431Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -5.3% VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 39.6±2.7Lowest 8% below VT |
45.2±11.6 5% above VT |
47.3±6.5Highest 10% above VT |
| Athens and Brighton 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% |
18.3%±5.7 VT: 17.9% |
13.9%±6.5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Whiting and Brighton 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% |
27.2%±4.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
| Brighton 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% |
25.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
30.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±4Highest VT: 7% |
4.6%±2.4Lowest 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 |
$47,375±$21kLowest 42% 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 |
$163,900±$39kLowest 48% 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 |
$775±$33Lowest 37% 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 |
$3,360Lowest 33% below VT |
$5,438Highest 8% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58.3%±37.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
55%±17 VT: 48.4% |
43.5%±39Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Whiting and Brighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 11.5%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
22%Highest VT: 10.1% |
12.1% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 65.4% VT: 73.2% |
51.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
73.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Highest 1 yr older than VT |
1967Lowest 9 yrs older than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 7% below VT |
33 min 41% above VT |
36 minHighest 53% above VT |
| Work from home | 10%±5.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
12.4%±8.1 VT: 16.9% |
19.3%±7.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Athens and Brighton 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 | Brighton School District | — |
| 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.