Compare towns

Townshend vs Newfane vs Athens

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 highest household income ($79k).
Newfane has the most people working from home (30.8%).
Athens has the most kids (13.9% 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.

MeasureTownshendNewfaneAthens
People
Population
1,538Highest
1,456
431Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+4.8%Highest
VT: +2.8%
-4.7%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
—
Median age
55.6±9.6Highest
29% above VT
54.4±3.9
26% above VT
47.3±6.5Lowest
10% above VT
Townshend and Newfane are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
12%±2.6
VT: 17.9%
11.1%±3.7Lowest
VT: 17.9%
13.9%±6.5Highest
VT: 17.9%
Athens and Townshend 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%
29.2%±3.9Highest
VT: 21.4%
21.6%±4.6
VT: 21.4%
Newfane 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%
46.5%
VT: 43.8%
30.3%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
1.4%±0.8Lowest
VT: 7%
2.4%±2.1
VT: 7%
4.9%±3Highest
VT: 7%
Athens and Newfane are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$78,750±$29kHighest
3% below VT
$66,719±$21kLowest
18% below VT
$68,438±$30k
16% below VT
Townshend and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$287,200±$79kHighest
9% below VT
$284,200±$49k
10% below VT
$240,400±$32kLowest
24% below VT
Townshend and Newfane 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
$1,266±$238Highest
about the VT average
$1,125±$537
9% below VT
Newfane and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,364
6% above VT
$5,174Lowest
about the VT average
$5,438Highest
8% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
72.5%±23.1Highest
VT: 48.4%
51.9%±79.7
VT: 48.4%
43.5%±39Lowest
VT: 48.4%
Townshend and Newfane 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%
10.9%
VT: 10.1%
12.1%Highest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
82.6%
VT: 73.2%
87.2%Highest
VT: 73.2%
73.7%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1982Highest
6 yrs newer than VT
1971Lowest
5 yrs older than VT
1973
3 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
25 minLowest
6% above VT
27 min
13% above VT
36 minHighest
53% above VT
Work from home
28%±18.7
VT: 16.9%
30.8%±12.5Highest
VT: 16.9%
19.3%±7.5Lowest
VT: 16.9%
Newfane and Townshend 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 West River Valley Union Education District #72A —
High school 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

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.