Compare towns
Athens vs Barton vs Cornwall vs Townshend
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Barton has the most affordable homes ($147k median).
Cornwall has the most expensive homes ($458k median).
Townshend has the most people working from home (28%).
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 | Athens | Barton | Cornwall | Townshend |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 431Lowest |
730 |
1,208 |
1,538Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -6.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+1.9% VT: +2.8% |
+4.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.3±6.5 10% above VT |
40±5.5Lowest 7% below VT |
50.4±4.6 17% above VT |
55.6±9.6Highest 29% above VT |
| Townshend and Cornwall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 13.9%±6.5 VT: 17.9% |
24.1%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.7%±3 VT: 17.9% |
12%±2.6Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Barton and Cornwall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.6%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
21.2%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
25.7%±6.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.3%±6.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Cornwall and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.3% VT: 43.8% |
21.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
52.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±3Highest VT: 7% |
1.9%±1.6 VT: 7% |
3.7%±3.1 VT: 7% |
1.4%±0.8Lowest VT: 7% |
| Athens and Cornwall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $68,438±$30k 16% below VT |
$40,833±$8kLowest 50% below VT |
$114,583±$32kHighest 41% above VT |
$78,750±$29k 3% below VT |
| Cornwall and Townshend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $240,400±$32k 24% below VT |
$146,900±$30kLowest 54% below VT |
$458,000±$49kHighest 45% above VT |
$287,200±$79k 9% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$537Highest 9% below VT |
$761±$150Lowest 38% below VT |
$1,125±$206Highest 9% below VT |
$1,074±$80 13% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,438 8% above VT |
$3,185Lowest 37% below VT |
$6,726Highest 33% above VT |
$5,364 6% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.5%±39Lowest VT: 48.4% |
58.8%±18.2 VT: 48.4% |
61.9%±65.5 VT: 48.4% |
72.5%±23.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Townshend and Cornwall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 12.1% VT: 10.1% |
25.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
0.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.1% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.7% VT: 73.2% |
52.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
94.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
82.6% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1945Lowest 31 yrs older than VT |
1976 same as VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 53% above VT |
31 min 32% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
25 min 6% above VT |
| Work from home | 19.3%±7.5 VT: 16.9% |
16.5%±10.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
24.4%±6.6 VT: 16.9% |
28%±18.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Townshend and Cornwall 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 | — | #38 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | — | — | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | West River Valley Union Education District #72B · West River Valley Union Education District #72A |
| High school in town | — | — | None 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 | 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.