Compare towns
Barnet vs Braintree vs Castleton vs Bethel
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Barnet has grown the fastest since 2010 (-2.6%).
Braintree has the most people working from home (19%).
Castleton has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Bethel has the most homeowners (83.6%).
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 | Braintree | Castleton | Bethel |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,855 |
1,026Lowest |
4,453Highest |
1,736 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.1% VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-4.3% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.7±5.3 11% above VT |
58.4±2.4Highest 35% above VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
50.7±3.7 18% above VT |
| Kids under 18 | 21.6%±4.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
12.3%±3.2 VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
11.4%±3.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Barnet and Castleton 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% |
33.2%±3.4Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
25.5%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
| Braintree 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% VT: 43.8% |
30.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
37.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
35.7% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
1.8%±1.3 VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.6 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $67,386±$15kLowest 17% below VT |
$79,803±$5kHighest about the VT average |
$73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$75,822±$7k 7% below VT |
| Braintree 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±$24kHighest 22% below VT |
$217,700±$28kLowest 31% below VT |
$224,800±$71k 29% below VT |
$238,000±$41k 25% below VT |
| Barnet and Bethel 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 |
$840±$405Lowest 32% below VT |
$1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$1,335±$220Highest 8% above VT |
| Bethel and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,489 11% below VT |
$3,908 22% below VT |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$5,168Highest about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.3%±29.9 VT: 48.4% |
43.4%±29.4Lowest VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
54%±22 VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Barnet 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% |
11.1% VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9% VT: 73.2% |
81% VT: 73.2% |
79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
83.6%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1966Lowest 10 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 17% above VT |
26 min 11% above VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
28 minHighest 19% above VT |
| Work from home | 13.3%±4.5 VT: 16.9% |
19%±7.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
7.1%±3.1 VT: 16.9% |
| Braintree 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 | — | — | #39 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | White River Unified School District #79 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.