Compare towns
Bethel vs Strafford 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 most affordable homes ($238k median).
Strafford has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.4%).
Barnet has the youngest population (median age 47.7).
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 | Bethel | Strafford | Barnet |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,736 |
1,372Lowest |
1,855Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.6% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.7±3.7 18% above VT |
51.4±4.7Highest 19% above VT |
47.7±5.3Lowest 11% above VT |
| Strafford and Bethel 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% |
23%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
21.6%±4.9 VT: 17.9% |
| Strafford and Barnet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 25.5%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
22.1%±3.4Lowest 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% |
53.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
35.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.6 VT: 7% |
5.1%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
1%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
| Strafford 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±$7k 7% below VT |
$110,833±$19kHighest 36% above VT |
$67,386±$15kLowest 17% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $238,000±$41kLowest 25% below VT |
$431,300±$40kHighest 36% above VT |
$247,900±$24k 22% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,335±$220Highest 8% above VT |
$1,125±$789 9% below VT |
$974±$72Lowest 21% below VT |
| Bethel and Strafford 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 |
$7,149Highest 42% above VT |
$4,489Lowest 11% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54%±22 VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±48Lowest 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%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.6% VT: 73.2% |
88.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966Lowest 10 yrs older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 19% above VT |
23 minLowest about the VT average |
28 min 17% above VT |
| Work from home | 7.1%±3.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±4.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
13.3%±4.5 VT: 16.9% |
| Strafford and Barnet 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 | Strafford School District | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 |
| 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.