Compare towns
Athens vs Putney vs Townshend vs Waterville
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Putney has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Townshend has the most people working from home (28%).
Waterville has the most kids (20.4% 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 | Putney | Townshend | Waterville |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 431Lowest |
2,622Highest |
1,538 |
680 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -3.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+4.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+1.9% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.3±6.5 10% above VT |
37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
55.6±9.6Highest 29% above VT |
49.1±8.2 14% above VT |
| Townshend and Waterville 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% |
15.4%±4.1 VT: 17.9% |
12%±2.6Lowest VT: 17.9% |
20.4%±8.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Waterville and Putney 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% |
18.1%±3.8 VT: 21.4% |
19.3%±6.6 VT: 21.4% |
14.4%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Athens and Townshend 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% |
48.6% VT: 43.8% |
52.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
32.1% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±3 VT: 7% |
20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
1.4%±0.8Lowest VT: 7% |
5.3%±3.3 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $68,438±$30kLowest 16% below VT |
$79,706±$18kHighest about the VT average |
$78,750±$29k 3% below VT |
$71,250±$27k 12% below VT |
| Putney 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 |
$300,000±$44kHighest 5% below VT |
$287,200±$79k 9% below VT |
$236,300±$15kLowest 25% below VT |
| Putney 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 |
$508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
$1,074±$80 13% below VT |
$1,110±$93 10% below VT |
| Athens and Waterville 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 |
$5,313 5% above VT |
$5,364 6% above VT |
$3,957Lowest 21% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.5%±39Lowest VT: 48.4% |
54.2%±19.4 VT: 48.4% |
72.5%±23.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±27.2 VT: 48.4% |
| Townshend and Putney 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% |
16%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.1% VT: 10.1% |
4.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.7% VT: 73.2% |
72.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
82.6%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 min 53% above VT |
18 minLowest 24% below VT |
25 min 6% above VT |
38 minHighest 60% above VT |
| Work from home | 19.3%±7.5 VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±6.5 VT: 16.9% |
28%±18.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
8.5%±3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Townshend 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 | — | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | West River Valley Union Education District #72B · West River Valley Union Education District #72A | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Leland & Gray Union Middle & High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 8.1 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.