Compare towns

Athens vs Burke vs Sutton vs Westminster

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 most renters (26.3% rent).
Burke has the most kids (23% under 18).
Sutton has the most affordable homes ($231k median).
Westminster has the most people working from home (27%).

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.

MeasureAthensBurkeSuttonWestminster
People
Population
431Lowest
1,317
790
2,999Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
-5.8%
VT: +2.8%
-11.3%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
-5.1%Highest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
47.3±6.5
10% above VT
41.1±4.8Lowest
5% below VT
46.6±5.7
8% above VT
53.5±3.7Highest
24% above VT
Westminster and Athens 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%
23%±4Highest
VT: 17.9%
17.3%±3.4
VT: 17.9%
18.2%±4.7
VT: 17.9%
Burke and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
21.6%±4.6Lowest
VT: 21.4%
21.7%±2.2
VT: 21.4%
21.6%±2.7Lowest
VT: 21.4%
27.6%±6.8Highest
VT: 21.4%
Westminster and Burke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
30.3%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
41.4%
VT: 43.8%
32.8%
VT: 43.8%
46.3%Highest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.9%±3Highest
VT: 7%
3.6%±2.3
VT: 7%
2.3%±1.8Lowest
VT: 7%
4.4%±3.1
VT: 7%
Athens and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$68,438±$30kLowest
16% below VT
$87,143±$17kHighest
7% above VT
$71,250±$18k
12% below VT
$71,491±$4k
12% below VT
Burke and Westminster 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
$340,600±$18kHighest
8% above VT
$231,100±$41kLowest
27% below VT
$273,800±$35k
14% below VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,125±$537Highest
9% below VT
$938±$191
24% below VT
—
$916±$126Lowest
26% below VT
Athens and Burke 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
$5,177
about the VT average
$3,975Lowest
21% below VT
$4,063
19% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
43.5%±39
VT: 48.4%
74.6%±31Highest
VT: 48.4%
37.8%±31.1Lowest
VT: 48.4%
49.2%±7.5
VT: 48.4%
Burke and Westminster 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%
10%
VT: 10.1%
12.4%Highest
VT: 10.1%
8.8%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
73.7%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
88.6%Highest
VT: 73.2%
85%
VT: 73.2%
88.2%
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1973Lowest
3 yrs older than VT
1981Highest
5 yrs newer than VT
1979
3 yrs newer than VT
1980
4 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
36 minHighest
53% above VT
25 min
8% above VT
30 min
26% above VT
24 minLowest
about the VT average
Work from home
19.3%±7.5
VT: 16.9%
23.4%±6.8
VT: 16.9%
11.6%±5.3Lowest
VT: 16.9%
27%±6.6Highest
VT: 16.9%
Westminster and Burke 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 — — — #53 of 70 in VT
School district — Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 Bellows Falls Union High School District #27 · Westminster School District
High school in town — None in town None in town Bellows Falls Union High School
Students per teacherat that high school — — —
10.6
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.