Compare towns
Barnet vs Westminster 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 shortest commute (28 min average).
Westminster has the most people working from home (23.1%).
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 | Westminster | Bethel |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,855Highest |
497Lowest |
1,736 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
— | -4.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.7±5.3 11% above VT |
43.3±11.5Lowest 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%±4.9 VT: 17.9% |
28.4%±7.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.4%±3.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Westminster 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% |
19.7%±11.4Lowest 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%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
45.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
35.7% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
2.2%±3.5Highest VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.6 VT: 7% |
| Westminster 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 |
$81,000±$22kHighest about the VT average |
$75,822±$7k 7% below VT |
| Westminster 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 |
$313,600±$39kHighest about the VT average |
$238,000±$41kLowest 25% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $974±$72 21% below VT |
$749±$315Lowest 39% below VT |
$1,335±$220Highest 8% above VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,489 11% below VT |
$4,480Lowest 11% below VT |
$5,168Highest about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.3%±29.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
6.1%±43.8Lowest 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%Highest VT: 10.1% |
2.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
80.1% VT: 73.2% |
83.6%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Highest 2 yrs older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1966 10 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 17% above VT |
30 minHighest 26% above VT |
28 min 19% above VT |
| Work from home | 13.3%±4.5 VT: 16.9% |
23.1%±15.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
7.1%±3.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Westminster 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 | — | #53 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 | — | White River Unified School District #79 |
| High school 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.