Compare towns
Barnet vs Bethel vs Putney
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 oldest population (median age 50.7).
Putney has the shortest commute (18 min average).
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 | Putney |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,855 |
1,736Lowest |
2,622Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-4.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-3.1% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.7±5.3 11% above VT |
50.7±3.7Highest 18% above VT |
37.2±5.2Lowest 14% below VT |
| 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%±4.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.4%±3.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
15.4%±4.1 VT: 17.9% |
| Barnet and Putney 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% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest 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% |
48.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.6 VT: 7% |
20.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $67,386±$15kLowest 17% below VT |
$75,822±$7k 7% below VT |
$79,706±$18kHighest about the VT average |
| Putney 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 |
$300,000±$44kHighest 5% below VT |
| Putney and Barnet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $974±$72 21% below VT |
$1,335±$220Highest 8% above VT |
$508±$482Lowest 59% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,489Lowest 11% below VT |
$5,168 about the VT average |
$5,313Highest 5% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.3%±29.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
54%±22Lowest VT: 48.4% |
54.2%±19.4 VT: 48.4% |
| Barnet and Putney 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% |
16%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9% VT: 73.2% |
83.6%Highest VT: 73.2% |
72.8%Lowest 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 |
18 minLowest 24% below VT |
| Work from home | 13.3%±4.5 VT: 16.9% |
7.1%±3.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
16.9%±6.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Putney and Barnet 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 | — | — | #32 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 | White River Unified School District #79 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 |
| 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.