Compare towns
Athens vs Pittsfield vs Westminster
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).
Westminster has the most kids (18.2% under 18).
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 | Westminster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 431 |
391Lowest |
2,999Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -7.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-5.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.3±6.5Lowest 10% above VT |
53.8±3.5Highest 25% above VT |
53.5±3.7 24% above VT |
| Pittsfield and Westminster 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% |
13.6%±8.4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.2%±4.7Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Westminster and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.6%±4.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
30.4%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
27.6%±6.8 VT: 21.4% |
| Pittsfield and Westminster 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% |
46.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±3Highest VT: 7% |
2.8%±3.5Lowest VT: 7% |
4.4%±3.1 VT: 7% |
| 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 16% below VT |
$65,852±$12kLowest 19% below VT |
$71,491±$4kHighest 12% below VT |
| 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±$32kLowest 24% below VT |
$313,300±$73kHighest about the VT average |
$273,800±$35k 14% below VT |
| Pittsfield and Westminster 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±$140 16% below VT |
$916±$126Lowest 26% below VT |
| Athens and Pittsfield 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 |
$5,181 about the VT average |
$4,063Lowest 19% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.5%±39 VT: 48.4% |
35.6%±43Lowest VT: 48.4% |
49.2%±7.5Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Westminster 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%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.8% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
76.2% VT: 73.2% |
88.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 53% above VT |
19 minLowest 18% below VT |
24 min about the VT average |
| Work from home | 19.3%±7.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
28.1%±24.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
27%±6.6 VT: 16.9% |
| Pittsfield and Westminster 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 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.