What stands out worked out from the figures below

South Barre has the most people working from home (16.5%).

Bethel has the most kids (11.4% 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	South Barre	Bethel
People
Population	1,346Lowest	1,736Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-2.1%Highest VT: +2.8%	-4.3%Lowest VT: +2.8%
Median age	52.7±2.6Highest 22% above VT	50.7±3.7Lowest 18% above VT
	South Barre and Bethel are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	9.9%±5.9Lowest VT: 17.9%	11.4%±3.1Highest VT: 17.9%
	Bethel and South Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	11.5%±4.1Lowest VT: 21.4%	25.5%±3.7Highest VT: 21.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	34.7%Lowest VT: 43.8%	35.7%Highest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	0.8%±1.5Lowest VT: 7%	1.3%±1.6Highest VT: 7%
	Bethel and South Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$78,050±$16kHighest 4% below VT	$75,822±$7kLowest 7% below VT
	South Barre and Bethel are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$257,600±$25kHighest 19% below VT	$238,000±$41kLowest 25% below VT
	South Barre and Bethel are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,609±$371Highest 30% above VT	$1,335±$220Lowest 8% above VT
	South Barre and Bethel are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,750Lowest 6% below VT	$5,168Highest about the VT average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	36.1%±40.7Lowest VT: 48.4%	54%±22Highest VT: 48.4%
	Bethel and South Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.4%Lowest VT: 10.1%	8.2%Highest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	82.7%Lowest VT: 73.2%	83.6%Highest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1969Highest 7 yrs older than VT	1966Lowest 10 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	15 minLowest 36% below VT	28 minHighest 19% above VT
Work from home	16.5%±10.5Highest VT: 16.9%	7.1%±3.1Lowest VT: 16.9%
	South Barre and Bethel 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
High school in town	—	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.