Compare towns
Barnet vs Proctor vs Sheldon 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 renters (20.1% rent).
Proctor has the most affordable homes ($206k median).
Sheldon has the youngest population (median age 40.9).
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 | Proctor | Sheldon | Bethel |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,855 |
1,586Lowest |
2,267Highest |
1,736 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.6% VT: +2.8% |
— | -2.5%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-4.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.7±5.3 11% above VT |
47.3±8.9 10% above VT |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% 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% |
17.2%±5 VT: 17.9% |
23.7%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.4%±3.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Sheldon 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% |
23.5%±2.6 VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest 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% |
28% VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
35.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
3.9%±1.9Highest VT: 7% |
2%±1.3 VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.6 VT: 7% |
| Proctor and Sheldon 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 |
$75,060±$12k 8% below VT |
$78,533±$25kHighest 3% below VT |
$75,822±$7k 7% below VT |
| Sheldon 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 |
$206,000±$20kLowest 35% below VT |
$272,400±$61kHighest 14% below VT |
$238,000±$41k 25% below VT |
| Sheldon and Barnet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $974±$72Lowest 21% below VT |
$1,059±$200 14% below VT |
$1,286±$379 4% above VT |
$1,335±$220Highest 8% above VT |
| Bethel and Sheldon 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 |
$3,944 22% below VT |
$3,578Lowest 29% below VT |
$5,168Highest about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.3%±29.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
39.4%±15.6 VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest 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% VT: 10.1% |
10%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
86.3% VT: 73.2% |
89%Highest VT: 73.2% |
83.6% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1966 10 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 17% above VT |
22 minLowest 5% below VT |
25 min 7% above VT |
28 minHighest 19% above VT |
| Work from home | 13.3%±4.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
10%±5 VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
7.1%±3.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Barnet and Sheldon 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 | — | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | 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.