Compare towns
Townshend vs Westminster 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%).
Westminster has the most kids (28.4% 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 | Westminster | Athens |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,538Highest |
497 |
431Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8% VT: +2.8% |
— | — |
| Median age | 55.6±9.6Highest 29% above VT |
43.3±11.5Lowest 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% |
28.4%±7.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
13.9%±6.5 VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 19.3%±6.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
19.7%±11.4 VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±4.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Athens and Westminster 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% |
45.4% VT: 43.8% |
30.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.4%±0.8Lowest VT: 7% |
2.2%±3.5 VT: 7% |
4.9%±3Highest VT: 7% |
| Athens and Westminster 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 |
$81,000±$22kHighest about the VT average |
$68,438±$30kLowest 16% below VT |
| Westminster and Townshend 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 |
$313,600±$39kHighest about the VT average |
$240,400±$32kLowest 24% below VT |
| Westminster and Townshend 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 |
$749±$315Lowest 39% 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 |
$4,480Lowest 11% below VT |
$5,438Highest 8% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72.5%±23.1Highest VT: 48.4% |
6.1%±43.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
43.5%±39 VT: 48.4% |
| Townshend and Athens 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% |
2.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
12.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.1% VT: 73.2% |
73.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 6% above VT |
30 min 26% above VT |
36 minHighest 53% above VT |
| Work from home | 28%±18.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
23.1%±15.9 VT: 16.9% |
19.3%±7.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Townshend and Westminster 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 | — | #53 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | West River Valley Union Education District #72B · West River Valley Union Education District #72A | — | — |
| High school in town | Leland & Gray Union Middle & High School | — | — |
| 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.