Compare towns
Athens vs Plainfield vs Townshend vs Westminster
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Athens has the most affordable homes ($240k median).
Plainfield has the highest household income ($123k).
Townshend has the oldest population (median age 55.6).
Westminster has the most homeowners (88.2%).
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 | Plainfield | Townshend | Westminster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 431Lowest |
2,522 |
1,538 |
2,999Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.3±6.5 22% above U.S. |
38.9±6.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
55.6±9.6Highest 43% above U.S. |
53.5±3.7 38% above U.S. |
| Townshend 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 U.S.: 22% |
23.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
12%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Plainfield and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.6%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.3%±6.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.6%±6.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Westminster 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
46.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
52.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.4%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±3.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Athens and Plainfield 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 15% below U.S. |
$122,656±$13kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$78,750±$29k about the U.S. average |
$71,491±$4k 11% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $240,400±$32kLowest 28% below U.S. |
$442,400±$47kHighest 33% above U.S. |
$287,200±$79k 14% below U.S. |
$273,800±$35k 18% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$537 20% below U.S. |
$1,674±$181Highest 18% above U.S. |
$1,074±$80 24% below U.S. |
$916±$126Lowest 35% below U.S. |
| Plainfield and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,438 74% above U.S. |
$7,904Highest 153% above U.S. |
$5,364 72% above U.S. |
$4,063Lowest 30% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.5%±39 U.S.: 51.1% |
31.8%±23.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
72.5%±23.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
49.2%±7.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Townshend and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 12.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
88.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 36% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
25 min 5% below U.S. |
24 min 10% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.3%±7.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±8.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
28%±18.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
27%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Townshend 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 | — | #19 of 120 in NH | — | #53 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | Plainfield School District | West River Valley Union Education District #72B · West River Valley Union Education District #72A | Bellows Falls Union High School District #27 · Westminster School District |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Leland & Gray Union Middle & High School | Bellows Falls Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 8.1Lowest |
10.6Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.