Compare towns

Whiting vs Rupert 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 most kids (23.5% under 18).
Rupert has the most expensive homes ($363k median).
Athens has the most affordable homes ($240k 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.

MeasureWhitingRupertAthens
People
Population
532
676Highest
431Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
-2.2%
VT: +2.8%
—
Median age
39.6±2.7Lowest
8% below VT
57.8±9.7Highest
34% above VT
47.3±6.5
10% above VT
Rupert 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%
13.9%±3.7Lowest
VT: 17.9%
13.9%±6.5Lowest
VT: 17.9%
Whiting and Rupert 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%
42.3%±8.1Highest
VT: 21.4%
21.6%±4.6
VT: 21.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
25.9%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
30.6%Highest
VT: 43.8%
30.3%
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
6.2%±4Highest
VT: 7%
2.1%±2.5Lowest
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
$88,229±$36k
9% above VT
$68,438±$30kLowest
16% below VT
Whiting and Rupert 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
$362,500±$63kHighest
14% above VT
$240,400±$32kLowest
24% below VT
Rupert and Whiting 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
—
$1,125±$537Lowest
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
$4,594
9% below VT
$5,438Highest
8% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
58.3%±37.3Highest
VT: 48.4%
20%±100Lowest
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%
6%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
12.1%Highest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
65.4%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
93.7%Highest
VT: 73.2%
73.7%
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1975Highest
1 yr older than VT
1955Lowest
21 yrs older than VT
1973
3 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
22 minLowest
7% below VT
27 min
14% above VT
36 minHighest
53% above VT
Work from home
10%±5.4Lowest
VT: 16.9%
18.6%±9.2
VT: 16.9%
19.3%±7.5Highest
VT: 16.9%
Athens and Rupert 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

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.