Compare towns
Barnet vs Williamstown 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).
Williamstown has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.7%).
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 | Williamstown | Bethel |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,855 |
3,579Highest |
1,736Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.6% VT: +2.8% |
+3.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-4.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.7±5.3 11% above VT |
42±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%±4.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
19.9%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
11.4%±3.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Barnet and Williamstown 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% |
17%±3.9Lowest 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% |
17.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
35.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
4.8%±3.2Highest VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.6 VT: 7% |
| Williamstown 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 |
$94,418±$10kHighest 16% above VT |
$75,822±$7k 7% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $247,900±$24kHighest 22% below VT |
$234,900±$24kLowest 26% below VT |
$238,000±$41k 25% below VT |
| Barnet and Bethel 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 |
$1,659±$189Highest 34% above VT |
$1,335±$220 8% above VT |
| Williamstown and Bethel 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 |
$3,841Lowest 24% below VT |
$5,168Highest about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.3%±29.9 VT: 48.4% |
83.7%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
54%±22Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Williamstown and Barnet 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% |
8.2% VT: 10.1% |
8.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
83.6% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1966Lowest 10 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 17% above VT |
23 minLowest about the VT average |
28 minHighest 19% above VT |
| Work from home | 13.3%±4.5 VT: 16.9% |
13.9%±6.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
7.1%±3.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Williamstown 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 | — | #47 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 | White River Unified School District #79 |
| High school in town | None in town | Williamstown Middle/High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.5 |
— |
| 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.