Compare towns
Barnet vs Bethel vs White River Junction
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).
White River Junction has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.8%).
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 | White River Junction |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,855 |
1,736Lowest |
3,364Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.6% VT: +2.8% |
-4.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+10.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.7±5.3 11% above VT |
50.7±3.7Highest 18% above VT |
33.7±3.2Lowest 22% 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% |
17.1%±5 VT: 17.9% |
| Barnet and White River Junction 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% |
12.5%±3.6Lowest 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% |
38.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.6Highest VT: 7% |
1.2%±1.1 VT: 7% |
| Bethel and White River Junction 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 |
$77,168±$4kHighest 5% below VT |
| White River Junction 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 |
$278,800±$78kHighest 12% below VT |
| White River Junction and Barnet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $974±$72Lowest 21% below VT |
$1,335±$220Highest 8% above VT |
$1,222±$216 about the VT average |
| Bethel and White River Junction 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 |
$5,651Highest 12% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.3%±29.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
54%±22 VT: 48.4% |
42.9%±17.3Lowest 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% |
12.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9% VT: 73.2% |
83.6%Highest VT: 73.2% |
43.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Highest 2 yrs older than VT |
1966 10 yrs older than VT |
1963Lowest 13 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 17% above VT |
28 minHighest 19% above VT |
15 minLowest 35% below VT |
| Work from home | 13.3%±4.5 VT: 16.9% |
7.1%±3.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
15.7%±5.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
| White River Junction 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 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.