Compare towns
Barnet vs Bethel vs Calais
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Barnet has the most renters (20.1% rent).
Bethel has the oldest population (median age 50.7).
Calais has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.4%).
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 | Barnet | Bethel | Calais |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,855Highest |
1,736 |
1,713Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.6% VT: +2.8% |
-4.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.7±5.3 11% above VT |
50.7±3.7Highest 18% above VT |
42±8.6Lowest about the VT average |
| Bethel and Barnet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.6%±4.9 VT: 17.9% |
11.4%±3.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
22.5%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Calais and Barnet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 28.8%±3.8Highest VT: 21.4% |
25.5%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±5.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Barnet and Bethel are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
35.7% VT: 43.8% |
55.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.6 VT: 7% |
7.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $67,386±$15kLowest 17% below VT |
$75,822±$7k 7% below VT |
$100,625±$27kHighest 24% above VT |
| Calais and Bethel are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $247,900±$24k 22% below VT |
$238,000±$41kLowest 25% below VT |
$390,300±$36kHighest 23% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $974±$72Lowest 21% below VT |
$1,335±$220 8% above VT |
$1,408±$392Highest 14% above VT |
| Calais and Bethel are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,489Lowest 11% below VT |
$5,168 about the VT average |
$6,586Highest 31% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.3%±29.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
54%±22 VT: 48.4% |
49%±38.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Barnet and Bethel are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
83.6% VT: 73.2% |
92.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1966Lowest 10 yrs older than VT |
1976Highest same as VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 17% above VT |
28 min 19% above VT |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
| Work from home | 13.3%±4.5 VT: 16.9% |
7.1%±3.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.4%±7.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Calais and Barnet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 | White River Unified School District #79 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.