Compare towns
Barnet vs Wells 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).
Wells has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.6%).
Bethel has the most affordable homes ($238k median).
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 | Wells | Bethel |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,855Highest |
1,148Lowest |
1,736 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.6% VT: +2.8% |
+5.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-4.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.7±5.3Lowest 11% above VT |
50.7±5.2Highest 18% above VT |
50.7±3.7Highest 18% above VT |
| Kids under 18 | 21.6%±4.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
15.1%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
11.4%±3.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Barnet and Wells 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% |
24.5%±2.2Lowest 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% |
29.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
35.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
3%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.6 VT: 7% |
| Wells 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 |
$75,417±$11k 7% below VT |
$75,822±$7kHighest 7% below VT |
| Bethel and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $247,900±$24kHighest 22% below VT |
$243,000±$42k 23% below VT |
$238,000±$41kLowest 25% below VT |
| Barnet and Wells 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 |
$1,313±$282 6% above VT |
$1,335±$220Highest 8% above VT |
| Bethel and Wells 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 |
$3,308Lowest 34% below VT |
$5,168Highest about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.3%±29.9 VT: 48.4% |
62.5%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
54%±22Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Wells and Barnet 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% |
15.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
93.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
83.6% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1977Highest 1 yr newer than VT |
1966Lowest 10 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 17% above VT |
48 minHighest 102% above VT |
28 min 19% above VT |
| Work from home | 13.3%±4.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
11.3%±6.2 VT: 16.9% |
7.1%±3.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Barnet and Wells 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 | Wells Spring Unified Union School District #69 | 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 |
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.