Compare towns
Barnet vs Bethel vs Williston
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).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
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 | Williston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,855 |
1,736Lowest |
10,144Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.6% VT: +2.8% |
-4.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.7±5.3 11% above VT |
50.7±3.7Highest 18% above VT |
45.4±4.5Lowest 5% above 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% |
20.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
| Barnet and Williston 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%±3.5Lowest 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% |
54.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.6 VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7Highest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $67,386±$15kLowest 17% below VT |
$75,822±$7k 7% below VT |
$106,967±$12kHighest 32% above VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $247,900±$24k 22% below VT |
$238,000±$41kLowest 25% below VT |
$475,800±$40kHighest 50% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $974±$72Lowest 21% below VT |
$1,335±$220 8% above VT |
$1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,489Lowest 11% below VT |
$5,168 about the VT average |
$5,592Highest 11% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.3%±29.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
54%±22 VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4Lowest 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%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
4.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9% VT: 73.2% |
83.6%Highest VT: 73.2% |
75.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1966Lowest 10 yrs older than VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 17% above VT |
28 minHighest 19% above VT |
20 minLowest 16% below VT |
| Work from home | 13.3%±4.5 VT: 16.9% |
7.1%±3.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Williston 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 | — | — | #11 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 | White River Unified School District #79 | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 |
| High school in town | None 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.