Compare towns

Townshend vs Athens vs Windham

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Townshend has the most people working from home (28%).
Athens has the most affordable homes ($240k median).
Windham has the most kids (17.5% 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.

MeasureTownshendAthensWindham
People
Population
1,538Highest
431Lowest
594
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+4.8%
VT: +2.8%
— —
Median age
55.6±9.6Highest
29% above VT
47.3±6.5
10% above VT
44.2±7.4Lowest
about the VT average
Townshend and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
12%±2.6Lowest
VT: 17.9%
13.9%±6.5
VT: 17.9%
17.5%±7.9Highest
VT: 17.9%
Windham and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
19.3%±6.6Lowest
VT: 21.4%
21.6%±4.6
VT: 21.4%
23.2%±8.1Highest
VT: 21.4%
Windham and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
52.1%Highest
VT: 43.8%
30.3%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
48.1%
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
1.4%±0.8
VT: 7%
4.9%±3Highest
VT: 7%
0.8%±1.1Lowest
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
$78,750±$29k
3% below VT
$68,438±$30kLowest
16% below VT
$94,500±$12kHighest
16% above VT
Windham and Townshend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$287,200±$79k
9% below VT
$240,400±$32kLowest
24% below VT
$353,900±$20kHighest
12% above VT
Windham and Townshend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,074±$80Lowest
13% below VT
$1,125±$537Highest
9% below VT
—
Athens and Townshend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,364Lowest
6% above VT
$5,438
8% above VT
$5,951Highest
18% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
72.5%±23.1Highest
VT: 48.4%
43.5%±39
VT: 48.4%
41.2%±94Lowest
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
8.1%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
12.1%Highest
VT: 10.1%
9.9%
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
82.6%
VT: 73.2%
73.7%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
82.9%Highest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1982Highest
6 yrs newer than VT
1973Lowest
3 yrs older than VT
1982Highest
6 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
25 minLowest
6% above VT
36 minHighest
53% above VT
27 min
14% above VT
Work from home
28%±18.7Highest
VT: 16.9%
19.3%±7.5Lowest
VT: 16.9%
20.5%±5.6
VT: 16.9%
Townshend and Windham 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
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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.