Compare towns
Whiting vs Strafford 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 youngest population (median age 39.6).
Strafford has the most expensive homes ($431k 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 | Strafford | Athens |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 532 |
1,372Highest |
431Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -0.4% VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 39.6±2.7Lowest 8% below VT |
51.4±4.7Highest 19% above VT |
47.3±6.5 10% above VT |
| Strafford 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% |
23%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
13.9%±6.5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Whiting and Strafford 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% |
22.1%±3.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
| Strafford 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% |
53.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
30.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±4Highest VT: 7% |
5.1%±2.6 VT: 7% |
4.9%±3Lowest VT: 7% |
| Whiting and Strafford 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 |
$110,833±$19kHighest 36% above VT |
$68,438±$30kLowest 16% below VT |
| Strafford 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 |
$431,300±$40kHighest 36% above VT |
$240,400±$32kLowest 24% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,204±$519Highest about the VT average |
$1,125±$789Lowest 9% below VT |
$1,125±$537Lowest 9% below VT |
| Whiting and Strafford 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 |
$7,149Highest 42% above VT |
$5,438 8% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58.3%±37.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±48 VT: 48.4% |
43.5%±39Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Whiting and Strafford 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% |
5.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
12.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 65.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
88.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
73.7% 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 |
23 min about the VT average |
36 minHighest 53% above VT |
| Work from home | 10%±5.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
19.3%±7.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Athens and Strafford 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 | Strafford 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.