Compare towns
Bethel vs Wilder 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).
Wilder has grown the fastest since 2010 (+81.7%).
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 | Wilder | Barnet |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,736Lowest |
3,087Highest |
1,855 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+81.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.6% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 50.7±3.7Highest 18% above VT |
45.5±8.9Lowest 6% above VT |
47.7±5.3 11% 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 | 11.4%±3.1Lowest VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±4.1 VT: 17.9% |
21.6%±4.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Age 65+ | 25.5%±3.7Lowest VT: 21.4% |
27.3%±4.4 VT: 21.4% |
28.8%±3.8Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Barnet and Wilder 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% |
60.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
35.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.6 VT: 7% |
8.1%±3.9Highest VT: 7% |
1%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $75,822±$7kHighest 7% below VT |
$75,143±$9k 7% below VT |
$67,386±$15kLowest 17% below VT |
| Bethel and Wilder 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 |
$273,200±$18kHighest 14% below VT |
$247,900±$24k 22% below VT |
| Wilder and Barnet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,335±$220Highest 8% above VT |
$1,142±$451 7% below VT |
$974±$72Lowest 21% below VT |
| Bethel and Wilder 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 |
$5,505Highest 9% above VT |
$4,489Lowest 11% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54%±22 VT: 48.4% |
39.9%±17.2Lowest 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% |
9.3%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.6%Highest VT: 73.2% |
62.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
79.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966Lowest 10 yrs older than VT |
1983Highest 7 yrs newer than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 19% above VT |
17 minLowest 29% below VT |
28 min 17% above VT |
| Work from home | 7.1%±3.1Lowest VT: 16.9% |
12.6%±6.7 VT: 16.9% |
13.3%±4.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Barnet and Wilder 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 | — | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 |
| 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.