Compare towns

Whiting vs Williston 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).
Williston has the most expensive homes ($476k 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.

MeasureWhitingWillistonAthens
People
Population
532
10,144Highest
431Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
+16.2%
VT: +2.8%
—
Median age
39.6±2.7Lowest
8% below VT
45.4±4.5
5% above VT
47.3±6.5Highest
10% above VT
Athens and Williston 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%
20.5%±5.2
VT: 17.9%
13.9%±6.5Lowest
VT: 17.9%
Whiting and Williston 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%
21%±3.5
VT: 21.4%
21.6%±4.6Highest
VT: 21.4%
Athens and Williston 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%
54.9%Highest
VT: 43.8%
30.3%
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
6.2%±4Highest
VT: 7%
5.7%±2.7
VT: 7%
4.9%±3Lowest
VT: 7%
Whiting and Williston 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
$106,967±$12kHighest
32% above VT
$68,438±$30kLowest
16% below VT
Williston 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
$475,800±$40kHighest
50% above VT
$240,400±$32kLowest
24% below VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,204±$519
about the VT average
$1,832±$130Highest
48% above VT
$1,125±$537Lowest
9% below VT
Williston and Whiting 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
$5,592Highest
11% above VT
$5,438
8% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
58.3%±37.3Highest
VT: 48.4%
46.9%±17.4
VT: 48.4%
43.5%±39Lowest
VT: 48.4%
Whiting and Williston 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%
4.3%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
12.1%Highest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
65.4%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
75.1%Highest
VT: 73.2%
73.7%
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1975
1 yr older than VT
1993Highest
17 yrs newer than VT
1973Lowest
3 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
22 min
7% below VT
20 minLowest
16% below VT
36 minHighest
53% above VT
Work from home
10%±5.4Lowest
VT: 16.9%
22.3%±7.6Highest
VT: 16.9%
19.3%±7.5
VT: 16.9%
Williston and Athens 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 — #11 of 70 in VT —
School district Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 —
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.