Compare towns
Barnet vs Ripton vs Brookfield 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).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Brookfield has the most people working from home (27.3%).
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 | Ripton | Brookfield | Bethel |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,855Highest |
508Lowest |
1,486 |
1,736 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.6% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.7% VT: +2.8% |
-4.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.7±5.3 11% above VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
47±5.9Lowest 9% 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% |
11.8%±6.3 VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±4.1 VT: 17.9% |
11.4%±3.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Barnet and Brookfield 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% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
29.7%±6.4 VT: 21.4% |
25.5%±3.7Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Brookfield 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%Highest VT: 43.8% |
45.3% VT: 43.8% |
35.7% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
3.2%±2.4 VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.6 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $67,386±$15kLowest 17% below VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$98,500±$23k 21% above VT |
$75,822±$7k 7% below VT |
| Ripton and Brookfield 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 |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$339,300±$15k 7% above VT |
$238,000±$41kLowest 25% below VT |
| Ripton and Brookfield 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 |
— | $975±$306 21% below VT |
$1,335±$220Highest 8% above VT |
| Bethel and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,489Lowest 11% below VT |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$4,560 10% below VT |
$5,168Highest about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.3%±29.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
30.4%±27.8Lowest 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% |
8.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
6.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
87.9% VT: 73.2% |
83.6% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1975Highest 1 yr older than VT |
1966Lowest 10 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 17% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
37 minHighest 55% above VT |
28 min 19% above VT |
| Work from home | 13.3%±4.5 VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±10.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
7.1%±3.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Brookfield and Ripton 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 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | 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.