Compare towns
Barnet vs Castleton vs Whitingham 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 people working from home (13.3%).
Castleton has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Whitingham has grown the fastest since 2010 (-1%).
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 | Whitingham | Bethel |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,855 |
4,453Highest |
1,368Lowest |
1,736 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.6% VT: +2.8% |
-5.5%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-1%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 |
46.4±7.1 8% above 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%±4.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±6.4 VT: 17.9% |
19.8%±4.5 VT: 17.9% |
11.4%±3.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Barnet and Whitingham 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% |
20.7%±4.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
31.1%±2.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
25.5%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
| Whitingham 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% |
37.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
32.8%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
35.7% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
19.3%±1.8Highest VT: 7% |
2.2%±1.9 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 |
$70,625±$11k 13% 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 |
$262,300±$30kHighest 17% below VT |
$238,000±$41k 25% below VT |
| Whitingham and Barnet 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 |
$1,137±$195 8% below VT |
$673±$150Lowest 45% 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 |
$5,055 about the VT average |
$5,168Highest 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% |
62.7%±47.3 VT: 48.4% |
54%±22Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Castleton and Whitingham 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% VT: 10.1% |
15.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9% VT: 73.2% |
79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
85.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
83.6% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Highest 2 yrs older than VT |
1974Highest 2 yrs older than VT |
1974Highest 2 yrs older than VT |
1966Lowest 10 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 17% above VT |
19 minLowest 17% below VT |
38 minHighest 62% above VT |
28 min 19% above VT |
| Work from home | 13.3%±4.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest VT: 16.9% |
9.7%±5.2 VT: 16.9% |
7.1%±3.1 VT: 16.9% |
| Barnet and Whitingham 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 | Twin Valley Unified School District #75 | White River Unified School District #79 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Twin Valley Middle High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 7.8 |
— |
| 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.