Compare towns
Townshend vs Springfield 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 people working from home (28%).
Springfield has the most kids (18.6% 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 | Springfield | Athens |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,538 |
9,084Highest |
431Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 55.6±9.6Highest 29% above VT |
43.2±3.7Lowest about the VT average |
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% |
18.6%±3.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
13.9%±6.5 VT: 17.9% |
| Springfield 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% |
23.6%±3.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
| Springfield 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% |
23.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
30.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.4%±0.8Lowest VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.4 VT: 7% |
4.9%±3Highest VT: 7% |
| Athens and Springfield 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 |
$66,571±$13kLowest 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 |
$192,400±$20kLowest 39% below VT |
$240,400±$32k 24% below VT |
| Townshend and Athens 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 |
$963±$100Lowest 22% 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 |
$4,807Lowest 5% below VT |
$5,438Highest 8% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72.5%±23.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
49.6%±15.6 VT: 48.4% |
43.5%±39Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Townshend and Springfield 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% |
14.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
12.1% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6%Highest VT: 73.2% |
67.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
73.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1958Lowest 18 yrs older than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 6% above VT |
27 min 16% above VT |
36 minHighest 53% above VT |
| Work from home | 28%±18.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
15.1%±5.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
19.3%±7.5 VT: 16.9% |
| Townshend and Athens 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 | — | #64 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | West River Valley Union Education District #72B · West River Valley Union Education District #72A | River Valley Technical Center · Springfield School District | — |
| High school in town | Leland & Gray Union Middle & High School | Springfield High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.1Lowest |
14.3Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.