Compare towns
Athens vs Middlesex vs Putney vs Newbury
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 affordable homes ($240k median).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
Putney has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Newbury has the most renters (32.2% rent).
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 | Middlesex | Putney | Newbury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 431 |
1,943 |
2,622Highest |
393Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +2.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 47.3±6.5 10% above VT |
44.4±3.9 3% above VT |
37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
48.3±14Highest 12% above VT |
| Newbury 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% |
21.3%±3.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.4%±4.1 VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±7.4 VT: 17.9% |
| Middlesex and Newbury 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% |
20.6%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
27.5%±9.8Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Newbury 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%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48.6% VT: 43.8% |
38.2% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±3Lowest VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6 VT: 7% |
20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
6.9%±6.5 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $68,438±$30kLowest 16% below VT |
$109,632±$13kHighest 35% above VT |
$79,706±$18k about the VT average |
$76,250±$23k 6% below VT |
| Middlesex and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $240,400±$32kLowest 24% below VT |
$376,300±$40kHighest 19% above VT |
$300,000±$44k 5% below VT |
$275,900±$28k 13% below VT |
| Middlesex and Putney 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 |
$1,333±$359Highest 8% above VT |
$508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
$1,259±$401 about the VT average |
| Middlesex and Newbury 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 |
$6,483Highest 29% above VT |
$5,313 5% above VT |
$3,943Lowest 22% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.5%±39 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
54.2%±19.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
51%±25.3 VT: 48.4% |
| Putney and Newbury 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% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
16%Highest VT: 10.1% |
9.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.7% VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
72.8% VT: 73.2% |
67.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 53% above VT |
27 min 17% above VT |
18 minLowest 24% below VT |
30 min 29% above VT |
| Work from home | 19.3%±7.5 VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±6.5 VT: 16.9% |
14.3%±8.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Middlesex 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 | — | — | #32 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | — | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.