Compare towns
Barnet vs Dover 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).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+60%).
Bethel has the highest household income ($76k).
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 | Dover | Bethel |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,855Highest |
1,466Lowest |
1,736 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.6% VT: +2.8% |
+60%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-4.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.7±5.3Lowest 11% above VT |
53.5±8.3Highest 24% above VT |
50.7±3.7 18% above VT |
| Dover and Bethel 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% |
10.2%±5.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
11.4%±3.1 VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 28.8%±3.8 VT: 21.4% |
29.5%±6.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
25.5%±3.7Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Dover 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%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
35.7% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
2.5%±2.9Highest VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.6 VT: 7% |
| Dover and Bethel are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $67,386±$15k 17% below VT |
$52,313±$7kLowest 36% below VT |
$75,822±$7kHighest 7% below VT |
| Bethel and Barnet 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 |
$332,900±$55kHighest 5% above VT |
$238,000±$41kLowest 25% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $974±$72 21% below VT |
$670±$49Lowest 46% below VT |
$1,335±$220Highest 8% above VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,489Lowest 11% below VT |
$4,510 10% below VT |
$5,168Highest about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.3%±29.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
38.1%±17.2Lowest VT: 48.4% |
54%±22 VT: 48.4% |
| 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 VT: 10.1% |
7.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
81.1% VT: 73.2% |
83.6%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1966Lowest 10 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 17% above VT |
22 minLowest 6% below VT |
28 minHighest 19% above VT |
| Work from home | 13.3%±4.5 VT: 16.9% |
23.2%±11.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
7.1%±3.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Dover and Barnet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 | River Valleys Unified School District #73 | White River Unified School District #79 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.