Compare towns
Andover vs Athens vs Townshend
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Andover has the most expensive homes ($383k median).
Athens has the most affordable homes ($240k median).
Townshend has the oldest population (median age 55.6).
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 | Andover | Athens | Townshend |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 616 |
431Lowest |
1,538Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | +4.8% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 49.2±5.1 14% above VT |
47.3±6.5Lowest 10% above VT |
55.6±9.6Highest 29% above VT |
| Townshend and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 11.5%±4.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
13.9%±6.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
12%±2.6 VT: 17.9% |
| Athens and Townshend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.7%±4.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
19.3%±6.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Andover and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.3% VT: 43.8% |
30.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
52.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.5 VT: 7% |
4.9%±3Highest VT: 7% |
1.4%±0.8Lowest VT: 7% |
| Athens and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $102,500±$38kHighest 26% above VT |
$68,438±$30kLowest 16% below VT |
$78,750±$29k 3% below VT |
| Andover and Townshend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $382,900±$68kHighest 21% above VT |
$240,400±$32kLowest 24% below VT |
$287,200±$79k 9% below VT |
| Andover and Townshend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,389±$364Highest 13% above VT |
$1,125±$537 9% below VT |
$1,074±$80Lowest 13% below VT |
| Andover and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,190Lowest about the VT average |
$5,438Highest 8% above VT |
$5,364 6% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69.4%±47.1 VT: 48.4% |
43.5%±39Lowest VT: 48.4% |
72.5%±23.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Townshend and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
12.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.1% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.8%Highest VT: 73.2% |
73.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
82.6% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 7% above VT |
36 minHighest 53% above VT |
25 minLowest 6% above VT |
| Work from home | 29.6%±12.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
19.3%±7.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
28%±18.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Andover and Townshend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | — | West River Valley Union Education District #72B · West River Valley Union Education District #72A |
| High school in town | — | — | Leland & Gray Union Middle & High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 8.1 |
| 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.