Compare towns
Bethel vs Bristol vs Barnet
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 oldest population (median age 50.7).
Bristol has the most expensive homes ($337k median).
Barnet has the most kids (21.6% under 18).
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 | Bethel | Bristol | Barnet |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,736Lowest |
3,778Highest |
1,855 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-2.9% VT: +2.8% |
-2.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.7±3.7Highest 18% above VT |
47.9±4.8 11% above VT |
47.7±5.3Lowest 11% above VT |
| Bethel and Bristol 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% |
12.8%±3.5 VT: 17.9% |
21.6%±4.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 25.5%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
21.9%±4.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
28.8%±3.8Highest 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+ | 35.7% VT: 43.8% |
41.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
35.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.6 VT: 7% |
5.2%±3.2Highest VT: 7% |
1%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
| Bristol and Bethel are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $75,822±$7kHighest 7% below VT |
$74,620±$8k 8% below VT |
$67,386±$15kLowest 17% below VT |
| Bethel and Bristol 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 |
$337,300±$46kHighest 7% above VT |
$247,900±$24k 22% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,335±$220Highest 8% above VT |
$1,275±$181 3% above VT |
$974±$72Lowest 21% below VT |
| Bethel and Bristol 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 |
$5,978Highest 19% above VT |
$4,489Lowest 11% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54%±22 VT: 48.4% |
47.9%±14.4Lowest VT: 48.4% |
59.3%±29.9Highest 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%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
10.1%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.6%Highest VT: 73.2% |
71.3%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
79.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966Lowest 10 yrs older than VT |
1976Highest same as VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 19% above VT |
25 minLowest 5% above VT |
28 min 17% above VT |
| Work from home | 7.1%±3.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
17.9%±6.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
13.3%±4.5 VT: 16.9% |
| Bristol 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 | — | #31 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | White River Unified School District #79 | Mt. Abraham Unified School District #61 | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 |
| High school in town | None in town | Mt. Abraham Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.9 |
— |
| 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.