Compare towns
Athens vs Pittsfield 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 affordable homes ($240k median).
Pittsfield has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Townshend has the highest household income ($79k).
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 | Pittsfield | Townshend |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 431 |
391Lowest |
1,538Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -7.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+4.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.3±6.5Lowest 10% above VT |
53.8±3.5 25% above VT |
55.6±9.6Highest 29% above VT |
| Townshend and Pittsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.9%±6.5Highest VT: 17.9% |
13.6%±8.4 VT: 17.9% |
12%±2.6Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Athens and Pittsfield 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% |
30.4%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.3%±6.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Pittsfield 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% |
45.4% VT: 43.8% |
52.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±3Highest VT: 7% |
2.8%±3.5 VT: 7% |
1.4%±0.8Lowest VT: 7% |
| Athens and Pittsfield 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 |
$65,852±$12kLowest 19% below VT |
$78,750±$29kHighest 3% below VT |
| Townshend 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±$32kLowest 24% below VT |
$313,300±$73kHighest about the VT average |
$287,200±$79k 9% below VT |
| Pittsfield and Townshend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$537Highest 9% below VT |
$1,035±$140Lowest 16% below VT |
$1,074±$80 13% below VT |
| Athens and Townshend 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 |
$5,181Lowest about the VT average |
$5,364 6% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.5%±39 VT: 48.4% |
35.6%±43Lowest VT: 48.4% |
72.5%±23.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Townshend and Athens 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% |
8.4% VT: 10.1% |
8.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
76.2% VT: 73.2% |
82.6%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 53% above VT |
19 minLowest 18% below VT |
25 min 6% above VT |
| Work from home | 19.3%±7.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
28.1%±24.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
28%±18.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Pittsfield and Townshend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | — | West River Valley Union Education District #72B · West River Valley Union Education District #72A |
| High school in town | — | — | Leland & Gray Union Middle & High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 8.1 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.