Compare towns
Barnet vs Highgate 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).
Highgate has grown the fastest since 2010 (-1.8%).
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 | Highgate | Bethel |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,855 |
3,528Highest |
1,736Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.6% VT: +2.8% |
-1.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-4.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.7±5.3 11% above VT |
44±7.4Lowest about the VT average |
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% |
15.8%±5.3 VT: 17.9% |
11.4%±3.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Barnet and Highgate 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% |
22.2%±5.2Lowest 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% VT: 43.8% |
19.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
35.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
2.6%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.6 VT: 7% |
| Highgate 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±$15kLowest 17% below VT |
$81,017±$14kHighest about the VT average |
$75,822±$7k 7% below VT |
| Highgate 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 |
$280,500±$21kHighest 11% below VT |
$238,000±$41kLowest 25% below VT |
| Highgate 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 |
$895±$691Lowest 27% below VT |
$1,335±$220Highest 8% above VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,489 11% below VT |
$3,558Lowest 29% below VT |
$5,168Highest about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.3%±29.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
30.5%±11.3Lowest 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% |
8.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
80.7% VT: 73.2% |
83.6%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1966Lowest 10 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 17% above VT |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
28 min 19% above VT |
| Work from home | 13.3%±4.5 VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±7.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
7.1%±3.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Highgate 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 | — | #43 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | White River Unified School District #79 |
| High school in town | None in town | Missisquoi Valley Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.8 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.