Compare towns
Barnet vs Canton vs Bethel
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Barnet has the shortest commute (28 min average).
Canton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13%).
Bethel has the oldest population (median age 50.7).
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 | Canton | Bethel |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,855 |
24,748Highest |
1,736Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+13%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.7±5.3 23% above U.S. |
42.6±2.3Lowest 10% above U.S. |
50.7±3.7Highest 30% above U.S. |
| 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%±4.9 U.S.: 22% |
22.9%±2.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Canton and Barnet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 28.8%±3.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.5%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
67.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $67,386±$15kLowest 17% below U.S. |
$143,381±$9kHighest 78% above U.S. |
$75,822±$7k 6% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $247,900±$24k 25% below U.S. |
$710,600±$27kHighest 114% above U.S. |
$238,000±$41kLowest 28% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $974±$72Lowest 31% below U.S. |
$2,315±$178Highest 64% above U.S. |
$1,335±$220 6% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,489Lowest 44% above U.S. |
$6,560Highest 110% above U.S. |
$5,168 66% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.3%±29.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.4%±9.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
54%±22 U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1966Lowest 14 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
36 minHighest 36% above U.S. |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.3%±4.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
25.7%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.1%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #81 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 | Blue Hills Regional Vocational Technical · Canton | White River Unified School District #79 |
| High school in town | None in town | Canton High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.1 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.