Compare towns
Athens vs Busti vs Westminster
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Busti has the most affordable homes ($165k 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.
| Measure | Athens | Busti | Westminster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 431Lowest |
7,452Highest |
2,999 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +2.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.3±6.5 22% above U.S. |
46.6±4.8Lowest 20% above U.S. |
53.5±3.7Highest 38% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
19.9%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Busti 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
23.8%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.6%±6.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Westminster and Busti are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
29.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±3.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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±$30k 15% below U.S. |
$67,292±$9kLowest 17% below U.S. |
$71,491±$4kHighest 11% below U.S. |
| Westminster 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 28% below U.S. |
$164,600±$12kLowest 51% below U.S. |
$273,800±$35kHighest 18% below U.S. |
| Westminster 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 20% below U.S. |
$1,085±$106 23% below U.S. |
$916±$126Lowest 35% below U.S. |
| Athens and Busti are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,438Highest 74% above U.S. |
$3,876Lowest 24% above U.S. |
$4,063 30% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.5%±39Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.5%±13.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
49.2%±7.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Busti and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 12.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
14.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
72.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 36% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 20% below U.S. |
24 min 10% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.3%±7.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.5%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
27%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Westminster and Athens 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 | — | — | Bellows Falls Union High School District #27 · Westminster School District |
| High school 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 |
U.S. 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.