Compare towns
Athens vs Stratton 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).
Stratton has the most kids (28% under 18).
Townshend has the most people working from home (28%).
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 | Stratton | Townshend |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 431Lowest |
532 |
1,538Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | +4.8% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.3±6.5 10% above VT |
31.5±4.1Lowest 27% below VT |
55.6±9.6Highest 29% above VT |
| Townshend and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.9%±6.5 VT: 17.9% |
28%±7.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
12%±2.6Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 21.6%±4.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
11.7%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
19.3%±6.6 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% |
33.2% VT: 43.8% |
52.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±3Highest VT: 7% |
1.3%±2.8Lowest VT: 7% |
1.4%±0.8 VT: 7% |
| Athens and Townshend 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 16% below VT |
$122,708±$33kHighest 51% above VT |
$78,750±$29k 3% below VT |
| Stratton 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±$32kLowest 24% below VT |
$400,000±$50kHighest 26% above VT |
$287,200±$79k 9% below VT |
| Stratton and Townshend 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 |
$1,208±$979Highest about the VT average |
$1,074±$80Lowest 13% below VT |
| Stratton and Athens 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 |
$4,750Lowest 6% below VT |
$5,364 6% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.5%±39 VT: 48.4% |
12%±69.8Lowest 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% |
0%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.1% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.7% VT: 73.2% |
73.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
82.6%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
1988Highest 12 yrs newer than VT |
1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 53% above VT |
33 min 39% above VT |
25 minLowest 6% above VT |
| Work from home | 19.3%±7.5 VT: 16.9% |
3.3%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
28%±18.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Townshend and Athens 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.