Compare towns
Townshend vs Rochester 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 most expensive homes ($287k median).
Rochester has the most people working from home (40.8%).
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.
| Measure | Townshend | Rochester | Athens |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,538Highest |
1,389 |
431Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 55.6±9.6Highest 29% above VT |
53.3±7.6 24% above VT |
47.3±6.5Lowest 10% above VT |
| Townshend and Rochester 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% |
10.4%±3.3Lowest 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% |
31.5%±3.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
49% VT: 43.8% |
30.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.4%±0.8 VT: 7% |
0.4%±0.6Lowest VT: 7% |
4.9%±3Highest 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±$29kHighest 3% below VT |
$72,676±$8k 11% below VT |
$68,438±$30kLowest 16% below VT |
| Townshend and Rochester 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 |
$253,600±$81k 20% below VT |
$240,400±$32kLowest 24% below VT |
| Townshend and Rochester 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 |
$929±$158Lowest 25% 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 | $5,364 6% above VT |
$3,977Lowest 21% below VT |
$5,438Highest 8% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72.5%±23.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
62.4%±27.8 VT: 48.4% |
43.5%±39Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Townshend and Rochester 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% |
18.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
12.1% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6% VT: 73.2% |
86.1%Highest VT: 73.2% |
73.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1967Lowest 9 yrs older than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 6% above VT |
27 min 17% above VT |
36 minHighest 53% above VT |
| Work from home | 28%±18.7 VT: 16.9% |
40.8%±27.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
19.3%±7.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Rochester 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 | Rochester Stockbridge Unified School District #81 | — |
| 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.