Compare towns
Bellows Falls vs Putney vs Athens
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bellows Falls has the most kids (22.6% under 18).
Putney has the most expensive homes ($300k median).
Athens has the oldest population (median age 47.3).
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 | Bellows Falls | Putney | Athens |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,891Highest |
2,622 |
431Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -12.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-3.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 41.3±6.7 4% below VT |
37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
47.3±6.5Highest 10% above VT |
| Athens and Bellows Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.6%±6.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.4%±4.1 VT: 17.9% |
13.9%±6.5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Bellows Falls and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 23.7%±5.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
| Bellows Falls and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 27.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
30.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.2%±4.3 VT: 7% |
20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
4.9%±3Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $56,086±$2kLowest 31% below VT |
$79,706±$18kHighest about the VT average |
$68,438±$30k 16% below VT |
| Putney and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $195,600±$35kLowest 38% below VT |
$300,000±$44kHighest 5% below VT |
$240,400±$32k 24% below VT |
| Putney and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,038±$109 16% below VT |
$508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
$1,125±$537Highest 9% below VT |
| Athens and Bellows Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,448Lowest 12% below VT |
$5,313 5% above VT |
$5,438Highest 8% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.9%±16.8 VT: 48.4% |
54.2%±19.4Highest VT: 48.4% |
43.5%±39Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Putney and Bellows Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 25.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
16% VT: 10.1% |
12.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 50.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
72.8% VT: 73.2% |
73.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1977Highest 1 yr newer than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 14% below VT |
18 minLowest 24% below VT |
36 minHighest 53% above VT |
| Work from home | 6.9%±5.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±6.5 VT: 16.9% |
19.3%±7.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Athens and Putney 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 | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | — |
| 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.