Compare towns
Barnet vs Worcester 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).
Worcester has the most people working from home (23.6%).
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 | Worcester | Bethel |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,855Highest |
831Lowest |
1,736 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3.4% VT: +2.8% |
-4.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.7±5.3 11% above VT |
47±2.7Lowest 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% |
12.8%±3.9 VT: 17.9% |
11.4%±3.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 28.8%±3.8Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.5%±2.5Lowest 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% |
53%Highest VT: 43.8% |
35.7% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
6.9%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
1.3%±1.6 VT: 7% |
| Worcester 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 |
$73,833±$18k 9% below VT |
$75,822±$7kHighest 7% below VT |
| Bethel and Worcester 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 |
$271,100±$27kHighest 14% below VT |
$238,000±$41kLowest 25% below VT |
| Worcester 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 |
$1,023±$136 17% below VT |
$1,335±$220Highest 8% above VT |
| Bethel and Worcester 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 |
$4,421Lowest 12% below VT |
$5,168Highest about the VT average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.3%±29.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
25.5%±37Lowest 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% |
5.9%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
85.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
83.6% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1976Highest same as VT |
1966Lowest 10 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 17% above VT |
29 minHighest 22% above VT |
28 min 19% above VT |
| Work from home | 13.3%±4.5 VT: 16.9% |
23.6%±4.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
7.1%±3.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Schools | |||
| School district | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | White River Unified School District #79 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.