Compare towns
Townshend vs Stratton vs Dummerston 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).
Stratton has the youngest population (median age 31.5).
Dummerston has the shortest commute (21 min average).
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 | Stratton | Dummerston | Athens |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,538 |
532 |
2,090Highest |
431Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— | +0.1%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 55.6±9.6Highest 29% above VT |
31.5±4.1Lowest 27% below VT |
45.6±11.7 6% 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% |
28%±7.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
21.7%±6 VT: 17.9% |
13.9%±6.5 VT: 17.9% |
| Stratton and Dummerston 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% |
11.7%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
24.3%±3Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
| Dummerston 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% VT: 43.8% |
33.2% VT: 43.8% |
58.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
30.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.4%±0.8 VT: 7% |
1.3%±2.8Lowest VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest 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±$29k 3% below VT |
$122,708±$33kHighest 51% above VT |
$101,696±$21k 25% above VT |
$68,438±$30kLowest 16% below VT |
| Stratton and Dummerston 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 |
$400,000±$50kHighest 26% above VT |
$335,300±$22k 6% above VT |
$240,400±$32kLowest 24% below VT |
| Stratton and Dummerston 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 |
$1,208±$979 about the VT average |
$1,392±$126Highest 13% above VT |
$1,125±$537 9% below VT |
| Dummerston and Stratton 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 |
$4,750 6% below VT |
$4,536Lowest 10% below VT |
$5,438Highest 8% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72.5%±23.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
12%±69.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
44.1%±32.2 VT: 48.4% |
43.5%±39 VT: 48.4% |
| Townshend and Dummerston 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% |
0%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
4.5% VT: 10.1% |
12.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6% VT: 73.2% |
73.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
73.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
1988Highest 12 yrs newer than VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 6% above VT |
33 min 39% above VT |
21 minLowest 11% below VT |
36 minHighest 53% above VT |
| Work from home | 28%±18.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
3.3%±3.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
25.9%±10.3 VT: 16.9% |
19.3%±7.5 VT: 16.9% |
| Townshend and Dummerston 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 | — | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | — |
| 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 History | None yet | 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.