Compare towns
Barnet vs Castleton vs Underhill vs Bethel
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Castleton has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Underhill has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.7%).
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 | Underhill | Bethel |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,855 |
4,453Highest |
3,141 |
1,736Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.6% VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-4.3% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.7±5.3 11% above VT |
38.3±4.3 11% below VT |
38.1±11.4Lowest 12% below VT |
50.7±3.7Highest 18% 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%±4.9 VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
27.8%±10.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.4%±3.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Underhill 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 VT: 21.4% |
20.7%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
17.6%±6Lowest 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% |
50.1%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% |
3.5%±2 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 |
$92,267±$54kHighest 14% above VT |
$75,822±$7k 7% below VT |
| Underhill 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 |
$224,800±$71kLowest 29% below VT |
$446,000±$24kHighest 41% above VT |
$238,000±$41k 25% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $974±$72Lowest 21% 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 |
$3,167Lowest 37% below VT |
$6,697Highest 33% above VT |
$5,168 about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.3%±29.9 VT: 48.4% |
67.7%±21.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±18.2Lowest 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% VT: 10.1% |
12.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
6.4%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9% VT: 73.2% |
79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
79.8% VT: 73.2% |
83.6%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1979Highest 3 yrs newer than VT |
1966Lowest 10 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 17% above VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
33 minHighest 39% above VT |
28 min 19% above VT |
| Work from home | 13.3%±4.5 VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
19.4%±11.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
7.1%±3.1 VT: 16.9% |
| Underhill 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 | #2 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 | 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.