Compare towns

Whiting vs Johnson 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).
Johnson has the most affordable homes ($169k 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.

MeasureWhitingJohnsonAthens
People
Population
532
3,450Highest
431Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
+1.3%
VT: +2.8%
—
Median age
39.6±2.7
8% below VT
30.9±6.5Lowest
28% below VT
47.3±6.5Highest
10% above VT
Athens and Whiting 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%
22.7%±5
VT: 17.9%
13.9%±6.5Lowest
VT: 17.9%
Whiting and Johnson 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%
10.8%±3.1Lowest
VT: 21.4%
21.6%±4.6Highest
VT: 21.4%
Athens and Whiting 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%
32.2%Highest
VT: 43.8%
30.3%
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
6.2%±4
VT: 7%
14.4%±2.1Highest
VT: 7%
4.9%±3Lowest
VT: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$91,250±$38kHighest
12% above VT
$55,346±$14kLowest
32% 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
$169,400±$62kLowest
46% 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
$948±$45Lowest
23% 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
$3,310Lowest
34% below VT
$5,438Highest
8% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
58.3%±37.3Highest
VT: 48.4%
51.6%±20.8
VT: 48.4%
43.5%±39Lowest
VT: 48.4%
Whiting and Johnson 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%
12.2%Highest
VT: 10.1%
12.1%
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
65.4%
VT: 73.2%
58.4%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
73.7%Highest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1975
1 yr older than VT
1980Highest
4 yrs newer than VT
1973Lowest
3 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
22 minLowest
7% below VT
33 min
42% above VT
36 minHighest
53% above VT
Work from home
10%±5.4
VT: 16.9%
8.8%±4.6Lowest
VT: 16.9%
19.3%±7.5Highest
VT: 16.9%
Athens and Whiting are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading — #57 of 70 in VT —
School district Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A —
High school in town None in town None in town —
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story 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.