Compare towns
Barnard vs Randolph vs Bethel
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Barnard has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.8%).
Randolph has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Bethel has the oldest population (median age 50.7).
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 | Barnard | Randolph | Bethel |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,211Lowest |
4,843Highest |
1,736 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.1% VT: +2.8% |
-4.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42.4±6 about the VT average |
40.4±7.4Lowest 6% below VT |
50.7±3.7Highest 18% above VT |
| Bethel and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 26.9%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
17.3%±4.4 VT: 17.9% |
11.4%±3.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Barnard and Randolph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22%±3.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.9%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
25.5%±3.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Bethel and Randolph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
40.8% VT: 43.8% |
35.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.8 VT: 7% |
11.2%±2.5Highest VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $97,581±$19kHighest 20% above VT |
$76,758±$6k 5% below VT |
$75,822±$7kLowest 7% below VT |
| Barnard and Randolph are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $402,600±$71kHighest 27% above VT |
$278,700±$38k 12% below VT |
$238,000±$41kLowest 25% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,372±$80Highest 11% above VT |
$1,172±$173Lowest 5% below VT |
$1,335±$220 8% above VT |
| Barnard and Bethel are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,038Highest 20% above VT |
$4,698Lowest 7% below VT |
$5,168 about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27%±19.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
54.1%±17.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
54%±22 VT: 48.4% |
| Randolph and Bethel are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
7.7% VT: 10.1% |
8.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
67.2%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
83.6% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Highest 5 yrs older than VT |
1971Highest 5 yrs older than VT |
1966Lowest 10 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 21% above VT |
21 minLowest 12% below VT |
28 min 19% above VT |
| Work from home | 19.3%±10.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.9%±4.7 VT: 16.9% |
7.1%±3.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Barnard and Randolph 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 | — | #55 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | White River Unified School District #79 |
| High school in town | None in town | Randolph Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.4 |
— |
| 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.