Compare towns
Barnet vs Castleton vs Plainfield 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 the most kids (21.6% under 18).
Castleton has the youngest population (median age 38.3).
Plainfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.6%).
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 | Castleton | Plainfield | Bethel |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,855 |
4,453Highest |
1,314Lowest |
1,736 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.6% VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-4.3% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.7±5.3 11% above VT |
38.3±4.3Lowest 11% below VT |
48.1±5.5 12% above VT |
50.7±3.7Highest 18% above VT |
| Bethel and Plainfield 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% |
18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
16.3%±4.7 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%±3.8Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21.1%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
25.5%±3.7 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% |
37.9% VT: 43.8% |
48.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
35.7% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
2.1%±1.3 VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.6 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $67,386±$15kLowest 17% below VT |
$73,854±$23k 9% below VT |
$69,250±$31k 15% below VT |
$75,822±$7kHighest 7% below VT |
| Bethel and Castleton 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 |
$224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
$318,400±$34kHighest about the VT average |
$238,000±$41k 25% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $974±$72Lowest 21% below VT |
$1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$1,153±$103 7% below VT |
$1,335±$220Highest 8% above VT |
| Bethel and Plainfield 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 |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$4,806 5% below VT |
$5,168Highest about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.3%±29.9 VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9 VT: 48.4% |
73.2%±53.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
54%±22Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Plainfield and Castleton 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% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
11.6% VT: 10.1% |
8.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9% VT: 73.2% |
79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
80.9% VT: 73.2% |
83.6%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Highest 2 yrs older than VT |
1974Highest 2 yrs older than VT |
1955Lowest 21 yrs older than VT |
1966 10 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 17% above VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
24 min about the VT average |
28 minHighest 19% above VT |
| Work from home | 13.3%±4.5 VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
16.4%±4.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
7.1%±3.1 VT: 16.9% |
| Plainfield 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 | 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 |
| 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.