Compare towns
Athens vs Jericho vs Waterville 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).
Jericho has the most expensive homes ($493k median).
Waterville has the most kids (20.4% 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 | Jericho | Waterville | Townshend |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 431Lowest |
5,114Highest |
680 |
1,538 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +1.9%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+1.9%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+4.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.3±6.5Lowest 10% above VT |
49.7±5.1 15% above VT |
49.1±8.2 14% above VT |
55.6±9.6Highest 29% above VT |
| Townshend and Jericho 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% |
19.5%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
20.4%±8.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
12%±2.6Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Waterville and Jericho 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% |
20.2%±4.4 VT: 21.4% |
14.4%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
19.3%±6.6 VT: 21.4% |
| Athens and Jericho 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% |
65.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
32.1% VT: 43.8% |
52.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±3 VT: 7% |
2.4%±1.6 VT: 7% |
5.3%±3.3Highest VT: 7% |
1.4%±0.8Lowest VT: 7% |
| Waterville 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±$30kLowest 16% below VT |
$116,923±$16kHighest 44% above VT |
$71,250±$27k 12% below VT |
$78,750±$29k 3% below VT |
| Jericho 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 |
$493,100±$38kHighest 56% above VT |
$236,300±$15kLowest 25% below VT |
$287,200±$79k 9% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$537 9% below VT |
$1,731±$111Highest 40% above VT |
$1,110±$93 10% below VT |
$1,074±$80Lowest 13% below VT |
| Jericho and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,438 8% above VT |
$7,318Highest 45% above VT |
$3,957Lowest 21% below VT |
$5,364 6% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.5%±39Lowest VT: 48.4% |
79.3%±52.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±27.2 VT: 48.4% |
72.5%±23.1 VT: 48.4% |
| Jericho and Townshend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 12.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
0.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
4.9% VT: 10.1% |
8.1% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79.9% VT: 73.2% |
82.6% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 min 53% above VT |
26 min 10% above VT |
38 minHighest 60% above VT |
25 minLowest 6% above VT |
| Work from home | 19.3%±7.5 VT: 16.9% |
21.8%±6.4 VT: 16.9% |
8.5%±3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
28%±18.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Townshend and Jericho 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 | — | #6 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | — | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A | West River Valley Union Education District #72B · West River Valley Union Education District #72A |
| High school in town | — | Mt. Mansfield Union High School | None in town | Leland & Gray Union Middle & High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.0Highest |
— | 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.