Compare towns

Barnet vs Bethel vs Mendon

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 kids (21.6% under 18).
Bethel has the most affordable homes ($238k median).
Mendon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).

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.

MeasureBarnetBethelMendon
People
Population
1,855Highest
1,736
1,113Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-2.6%
VT: +2.8%
-4.3%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
+8.5%Highest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
47.7±5.3Lowest
11% above VT
50.7±3.7
18% above VT
53.4±10.5Highest
24% above VT
Mendon and Bethel are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
21.6%±4.9Highest
VT: 17.9%
11.4%±3.1Lowest
VT: 17.9%
14.6%±5.2
VT: 17.9%
Barnet and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
28.8%±3.8
VT: 21.4%
25.5%±3.7Lowest
VT: 21.4%
29%±1.3Highest
VT: 21.4%
Mendon and Barnet 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%
49.4%Highest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
1%±0.9Lowest
VT: 7%
1.3%±1.6
VT: 7%
3.1%±2.1Highest
VT: 7%
Mendon and Bethel are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$67,386±$15kLowest
17% below VT
$75,822±$7k
7% below VT
$100,524±$23kHighest
24% above VT
Mendon 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
$357,000±$44kHighest
13% above VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$974±$72Lowest
21% below VT
$1,335±$220Highest
8% above VT
$1,230±$651
about the VT average
Bethel and Mendon 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
$5,342Highest
6% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
59.3%±29.9
VT: 48.4%
54%±22Lowest
VT: 48.4%
88.6%±42.7Highest
VT: 48.4%
Mendon and Barnet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
8.2%
VT: 10.1%
8.2%
VT: 10.1%
8.2%
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
79.9%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
83.6%
VT: 73.2%
92.2%Highest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1974
2 yrs older than VT
1966Lowest
10 yrs older than VT
1977Highest
1 yr newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 min
17% above VT
28 minHighest
19% above VT
17 minLowest
28% below VT
Work from home
13.3%±4.5
VT: 16.9%
7.1%±3.1Lowest
VT: 16.9%
22.5%±8.9Highest
VT: 16.9%
Mendon 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 —
High school in town None in town None in town —
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.