Photo: The original uploader was Redjar at English Wikipedia. · CC BY-SA 2.0Athens spent more per resident in 2022 than 75% of similar towns
Athens’ town government spent $550,000 on day-to-day services in the year to December 31, 2024, about $1,447 per resident.
What stands out about how Athens is run
Read from the town’s budget and official records.
$1,267 per resident in 2022: more than 75% of them
Athens’ day-to-day spending in 2022 ($1,267 per resident, hospital and utilities left out) against 83 Vermont towns and townships of under 2,500 that don’t run their own schools: the median was $936, and the middle half spent $600–$1,268. Athens spent more than 75% of them.
Later years come from a Census sample, so the comparison stays on 2022. How Town Hall compares budgets →
Vermont towns and townships of under 2,500 that don’t run their own schools, 2022 Census of Governments (every government counted that year; Athens itself left out).
About $1,447 per resident a year, or $3.96 a day
Day-to-day services only. The biggest line: roads & transportation, at 73%.
Thank you for being a neighbor
Revenue is well above spending. That usually means Athens collects property taxes for the school district and county and passes them on, so only its own spending is counted.
Day-to-day spending has held about steady since 2022
Day-to-day services, in dollars, in the years Athens reported to the Census Bureau. Prices rose too: about 4% a year in 2022–2024.
Day-to-day spending by fiscal year
Per resident: 2022: $1,267 · 2024: $1,447. Per resident it went from $1,267 to $1,447 (up 14%), partly because the Census population behind it changed from 435 to 380.
Building projects, interest and enterprises (hospital, utilities) are left out, so a big construction year doesn’t read as growth.
The typical homeowner pays $5,438 a year
Every local property tax on the home: town, schools and county. About 2.26% of the home’s value, vs 1.59% across Vermont.
Typical yearly bill next door and statewide
The Housing page’s calculator splits a monthly payment into loan, tax and insurance at Athens’ rate.
Can I afford it? →The median bill homeowners report to the Census survey (bills of $10,000+ are reported as “$10,000+”). The effective rate is that bill ÷ the median home value: a rough guide, not the official tax rate. In a town this small the estimate has a wide margin.
Tax bills are one input to Athens’ Cost of living grade. Cost of living in Athens →
Most Vermont towns vote on March 2, 2027
Check Athens’ own dates: some towns hold the business session on another day or vote by ballot (SB2).
Athens’ meetings aren’t in our feed yet. The town posts agendas and minutes on its website.
Town website ↗Vermont’s Town Meeting Day is the first Tuesday in March, when towns vote on budgets and elect officers.
Some towns hold the business session on another day, and some vote by ballot (SB2). Check Athens’ site for its warrant and dates.
Who’s in charge in Athens
Names change after every election, so we link to the source that keeps them current.
One full-time town employee for every 190 residents
On the payroll in March 2022, from the Census Bureau’s Annual Survey of Public Employment & Payroll. Residents: the Census population in the 2024 finance file (380).
By department full-time, plus part-time, March 2022
The Census reports one month’s payroll (March); yearly figures are that month × 12, an estimate. Part-timers count half in the bar lengths.
Bellows Falls UHSD 27
Athens’ high school district, shared with Bellows Falls, Grafton, Rockingham, Saxtons River, Westminster and more. It’s its own government, with a budget separate from the town’s.
Of the $20,730 per pupil, $9,942 goes to the classroom (teachers, aides, supplies); the rest to buses, buildings, counselors and administration. Building projects and debt payments aren’t in the per-pupil figure.
Vermont districts overall: 5% local, 89% state, 6% federal.
Windham Northeast Union Elementary School District 95 · $32,553 per pupil
School year 2023–24. Census Bureau school finance survey.
How Athens voted in 2024
Official results for Athens’ own voters, as certified after the November 5, 2024 general election, with the county and the state beside them.
Kamala D HarrisDemocrat48.5%112 votes
Donald J TrumpRepublican47.2%109 votesOthers: 4.3% (10 votes).
Most votes in Athens: Kamala D Harris
Windham County: Harris 69.0%, Trump 26.7% · Vermont: Harris 63.8%, Trump 32.3%
of Athens’ 371 adult citizens voted for president in 2024. Across Vermont: 71%.
Votes ÷ citizens of voting age (Census CVAP, 2020–24 ACS).
Most votes in Athens: Bernie Sanders
Windham County: Sanders 69.4%, Malloy 24.8% · Vermont: Sanders 63.2%, Malloy 32.1%
Most votes in Athens: Phil Scott
Windham County: Scott 62.5%, Charlestin 30.8% · Vermont: Scott 73.4%, Charlestin 21.8%
Most votes in the district: Becca Balint
Whole-district result
President, 2024: Athens, its county and the state
| Harris | Trump | Others | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Athens | 48.5% | 47.2% | 4.3% | 231 |
| Windham County | 69.0% | 26.7% | 4.2% | 25,933 |
| Vermont | 63.8% | 32.3% | 3.9% | 369,422 |
Official 2024 general election returns, as certified (MIT Election Data + Science Lab). Percentages are of votes for candidates; blank and spoiled ballots aren’t counted. Candidates are listed by votes, and party colors are neutral on purpose.
Portraits: Kamala D Harris: official vice-presidential portrait, Lawrence Jackson, The White House, 2021; Donald J Trump: official portrait, Shealah Craighead, The White House, 2017. All are U.S. government works in the public domain. A race shows photos only when every candidate has an official portrait; otherwise every candidate in it gets initials.
From town hall to Washington
Every level of government that speaks for Athens.
- 1Your townTown governmentOfficials: athensvt.com ↗
- 2Vermont HouseState representatives
- 3Vermont SenateState senator
- 4GovernorStatewide
- 5U.S. HouseYour representative in Congress
- 6U.S. SenateBoth represent all of Vermont
Democrat · Republican · other or independent. Tap a name for their official page.
How Athens compares with the towns next door
Athens spent $1,267 per resident in 2022. Towns that run more services spend more. Tap a town to see its page.
| Town | Day-to-day, per resident (2022) | Tax bill |
|---|---|---|
| Grafton | estimate | $4,843 |
| Westminster | estimate | $4,063 |
| Townshend | estimate | $5,364 |
| Athens | $1,267 | $5,438 |
Day-to-day spending in 2022, the last year every government was counted, for governments that reported it; hospital and utilities left out. Tax bill: the typical homeowner’s bill (Census ACS, 2020–24).
Reach Athens’ government
The official site has phone numbers, hours and forms. Neighbors add the rest to the Handbook.
Questions about Athens’ government
How much does Athens spend per resident?
About $1,447 per resident on day-to-day services in the year to December 31, 2024, as reported to the Census Bureau. In 2022, the last full count, its $1,267 was more than 75% of 83 Vermont towns and townships of under 2,500 that don’t run their own schools.
What is the property tax rate in Athens?
Homeowners report a typical bill of $5,438 a year (Census ACS, 2020–24), about 2.26% of the typical home’s value, vs 1.59% across Vermont. For the official rate per $1,000 of assessed value, see athensvt.com.
Who runs Athens’ government?
See athensvt.com for current officials. We name an official only when a public source lists a current term, and none does for Athens yet.
How did Athens vote in 2024?
For president, Kamala D Harris 48.5%, Donald J Trump 47.2% (231 votes, official results). Windham County: Harris 69.0%, Trump 26.7%. Vermont: Harris 63.8%, Trump 32.3%.
How many people work for Athens?
2 full-time and 0 part-time employees in March 2022, with a March payroll of $7,883 (about $94,596 a year if every month were the same), as reported to the Census Bureau.
Who represents Athens in the state legislature?
State Senate District Windham (Nader Hashim and Wendy Harrison) and State House District Windsor-Windham (Tom Charlton). The House district also covers three neighboring towns. Listed by Open States; districts from the Census Bureau.
When is town meeting in Athens?
Most Vermont towns vote on the first Tuesday in March (March 2, 2027). Some hold the business session on another day or vote by ballot (SB2), so check athensvt.com for Athens’ own dates.
Ask neighbors about Athens’ government
Neighbors who’ve been to the meetings can help.
Budget and staff: U.S. Census Bureau, Census of Governments (2022, every government) and Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances (2023–24, a sample) and the Annual Survey of Public Employment & Payroll; day-to-day spending is current operations, with hospitals, utilities and airports apart. School district: Census school finance survey, 2023–24. Property tax: Census American Community Survey, 2020–24. Elections: official 2024 returns via the MIT Election Data + Science Lab; turnout uses Census citizen voting-age population (CVAP, 2020–24). Officials: Open States, names shown only with a current term (checked October 9, 2026). Districts: Census Bureau (119th Congress, 2024 state districts); legislators: Open States and congress-legislators. How Town Hall works →