Compare towns
Athens vs Bellows Falls vs Putney
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Athens has the oldest population (median age 47.3).
Bellows Falls has the most kids (22.6% under 18).
Putney has the most expensive homes ($300k 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.
| Measure | Athens | Bellows Falls | Putney |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 431Lowest |
2,891Highest |
2,622 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -12.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-3.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.3±6.5Highest 10% above VT |
41.3±6.7 4% below VT |
37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
| Athens and Bellows Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.9%±6.5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
22.6%±6.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.4%±4.1 VT: 17.9% |
| Bellows Falls and Putney 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% |
23.7%±5.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Bellows Falls 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% |
27.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±3Lowest VT: 7% |
8.2%±4.3 VT: 7% |
20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $68,438±$30k 16% below VT |
$56,086±$2kLowest 31% below VT |
$79,706±$18kHighest about the VT average |
| Putney and Athens 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 |
$195,600±$35kLowest 38% below VT |
$300,000±$44kHighest 5% below VT |
| Putney and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$537Highest 9% below VT |
$1,038±$109 16% below VT |
$508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
| Athens and Bellows Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,438Highest 8% above VT |
$4,448Lowest 12% below VT |
$5,313 5% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.5%±39Lowest VT: 48.4% |
43.9%±16.8 VT: 48.4% |
54.2%±19.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Putney and Bellows Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 12.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
25.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
16% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
50.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
72.8% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1977Highest 1 yr newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 53% above VT |
20 min 14% below VT |
18 minLowest 24% below VT |
| Work from home | 19.3%±7.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.9%±5.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±6.5 VT: 16.9% |
| Athens and Putney 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 | — | — | #32 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | — | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 |
| High school in town | — | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.