Compare towns
Townshend vs Putney vs Middlesex 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 oldest population (median age 55.6).
Putney has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Middlesex has the most kids (21.3% under 18).
Athens has the most affordable homes ($240k median).
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 | Townshend | Putney | Middlesex | Athens |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,538 |
2,622Highest |
1,943 |
431Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+2.8% VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 55.6±9.6Highest 29% above VT |
37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
44.4±3.9 3% above VT |
47.3±6.5 10% 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 | 12%±2.6Lowest VT: 17.9% |
15.4%±4.1 VT: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
13.9%±6.5 VT: 17.9% |
| Middlesex and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.3%±6.6 VT: 21.4% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±4.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Athens and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52.1% VT: 43.8% |
48.6% VT: 43.8% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
30.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.4%±0.8Lowest VT: 7% |
20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6 VT: 7% |
4.9%±3 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $78,750±$29k 3% below VT |
$79,706±$18k about the VT average |
$109,632±$13kHighest 35% above VT |
$68,438±$30kLowest 16% below VT |
| Middlesex and Putney 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 |
$300,000±$44k 5% below VT |
$376,300±$40kHighest 19% above VT |
$240,400±$32kLowest 24% below VT |
| Middlesex and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,074±$80 13% below VT |
$508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
$1,333±$359Highest 8% above VT |
$1,125±$537 9% below VT |
| Middlesex 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 |
$5,313Lowest 5% above VT |
$6,483Highest 29% above VT |
$5,438 8% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72.5%±23.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
54.2%±19.4 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
43.5%±39 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 | 8.1% VT: 10.1% |
16%Highest VT: 10.1% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
12.1% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6% VT: 73.2% |
72.8%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
73.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1973Lowest 3 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 6% above VT |
18 minLowest 24% below VT |
27 min 17% above VT |
36 minHighest 53% above VT |
| Work from home | 28%±18.7 VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±6.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
19.3%±7.5 VT: 16.9% |
| Middlesex and Townshend 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 | West River Valley Union Education District #72B · West River Valley Union Education District #72A | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | — |
| High school in town | Leland & Gray Union Middle & High School | None in town | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.1 |
— | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.