Compare towns
Athens vs Enosburgh vs Sheldon vs Townshend
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).
Enosburgh has the most affordable homes ($223k median).
Sheldon has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
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 | Enosburgh | Sheldon | Townshend |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 431Lowest |
2,804Highest |
2,267 |
1,538 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | -2.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+4.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.3±6.5 10% above VT |
40.6±3.9Lowest 6% below VT |
40.9±3.5 5% below VT |
55.6±9.6Highest 29% above VT |
| Townshend and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 13.9%±6.5 VT: 17.9% |
21%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
23.7%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
12%±2.6Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Sheldon and Enosburgh are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.6%±4.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
17.9%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
19.3%±6.6 VT: 21.4% |
| Athens and Townshend 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% |
20.1% VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
52.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±3 VT: 7% |
5.4%±2.4Highest VT: 7% |
2%±1.3 VT: 7% |
1.4%±0.8Lowest VT: 7% |
| Enosburgh and Athens 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 |
$63,828±$17kLowest 21% below VT |
$78,533±$25k 3% below VT |
$78,750±$29kHighest 3% below VT |
| Townshend and Sheldon 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 |
$223,100±$39kLowest 30% below VT |
$272,400±$61k 14% below VT |
$287,200±$79kHighest 9% below VT |
| Townshend and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$537 9% below VT |
$852±$87Lowest 31% below VT |
$1,286±$379Highest 4% above VT |
$1,074±$80 13% below VT |
| Sheldon and Athens 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 |
$3,624 28% below VT |
$3,578Lowest 29% below VT |
$5,364 6% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.5%±39 VT: 48.4% |
48.9%±11.2 VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
72.5%±23.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Townshend and Enosburgh 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% |
13.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.1% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
75.7% VT: 73.2% |
89%Highest VT: 73.2% |
82.6% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 53% above VT |
32 min 36% above VT |
25 min 7% above VT |
25 minLowest 6% above VT |
| Work from home | 19.3%±7.5 VT: 16.9% |
10.1%±4.4Lowest VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
28%±18.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Townshend 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 | — | #26 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | — | Enosburgh-Richford Unified Union School District #88 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | West River Valley Union Education District #72B · West River Valley Union Education District #72A |
| High school in town | — | Enosburg Falls Middle/High School | None in town | Leland & Gray Union Middle & High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.4Highest |
— | 8.1Lowest |
| 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.