Compare towns

Bethel vs Barnard vs Tunbridge

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Bethel has the most affordable homes ($238k median).
Barnard has the most expensive homes ($403k median).
Tunbridge has the most people working from home (25.8%).

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.

MeasureBethelBarnardTunbridge
People
Population
1,736Highest
1,211Lowest
1,253
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-4.3%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
+4.8%Highest
VT: +2.8%
+4.1%
VT: +2.8%
Median age
50.7±3.7Highest
18% above VT
42.4±6Lowest
about the VT average
42.7±8.3
about the VT average
Bethel and Tunbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
11.4%±3.1Lowest
VT: 17.9%
26.9%±5.3Highest
VT: 17.9%
21.1%±4.4
VT: 17.9%
Barnard and Tunbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
25.5%±3.7Highest
VT: 21.4%
22%±3.6
VT: 21.4%
20.9%±1.6Lowest
VT: 21.4%
Bethel and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
35.7%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
55.3%Highest
VT: 43.8%
42.9%
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
1.3%±1.6Lowest
VT: 7%
2.4%±1.8
VT: 7%
3.6%±2Highest
VT: 7%
Tunbridge and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$75,822±$7kLowest
7% below VT
$97,581±$19kHighest
20% above VT
$89,464±$26k
10% above VT
Barnard and Tunbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$238,000±$41kLowest
25% below VT
$402,600±$71kHighest
27% above VT
$315,300±$23k
about the VT average
Barnard and Tunbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,335±$220Lowest
8% above VT
$1,372±$80Highest
11% above VT
$1,346±$128
9% above VT
Barnard and Tunbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,168
about the VT average
$6,038Highest
20% above VT
$4,645Lowest
8% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
54%±22
VT: 48.4%
27%±19.8Lowest
VT: 48.4%
76.7%±100Highest
VT: 48.4%
Tunbridge 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%
2.6%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
14.4%Highest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
83.6%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
85.4%Highest
VT: 73.2%
84.2%
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1966Lowest
10 yrs older than VT
1971
5 yrs older than VT
1981Highest
5 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 minLowest
19% above VT
29 min
21% above VT
31 minHighest
31% above VT
Work from home
7.1%±3.1Lowest
VT: 16.9%
19.3%±10.8
VT: 16.9%
25.8%±8.2Highest
VT: 16.9%
Tunbridge and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district White River Unified School District #79 Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 First Branch Unified School District #82
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.