Compare towns
Bethel vs Tunbridge vs Wheelock
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 housing (typical home built 1966).
Tunbridge has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.1%).
Wheelock has the most affordable homes ($190k median).
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 | Tunbridge | Wheelock |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,736Highest |
1,253 |
717Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.3% VT: +2.8% |
+4.1%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-6.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.7±3.7 18% above VT |
42.7±8.3Lowest about the VT average |
51±5.6Highest 18% above VT |
| Wheelock 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% |
21.1%±4.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.5 VT: 17.9% |
| Tunbridge and Wheelock 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% |
20.9%±1.6Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29.4%±4.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Wheelock 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% |
42.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
34.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.6Lowest VT: 7% |
3.6%±2Highest VT: 7% |
2.8%±2.3 VT: 7% |
| Tunbridge and Wheelock 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 |
$89,464±$26kHighest 10% above VT |
$64,792±$20kLowest 20% below VT |
| Tunbridge and Bethel are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $238,000±$41k 25% below VT |
$315,300±$23kHighest about the VT average |
$189,600±$37kLowest 40% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,335±$220Lowest 8% above VT |
$1,346±$128Highest 9% above VT |
— |
| Tunbridge and Bethel are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,168Highest about the VT average |
$4,645 8% below VT |
$2,937Lowest 42% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54%±22 VT: 48.4% |
76.7%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest 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%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
14.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.7% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.6%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
84.2% VT: 73.2% |
97.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966Lowest 10 yrs older than VT |
1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
1989Highest 13 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 19% above VT |
31 minHighest 31% above VT |
28 minLowest 17% above VT |
| Work from home | 7.1%±3.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
25.8%±8.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
21.1%±16 VT: 16.9% |
| Tunbridge and Wheelock 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 | First Branch Unified School District #82 | — |
| High school 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.