Compare towns

St. Johnsbury vs Bellows Falls vs Barnet

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

St. Johnsbury has the most people working from home (17.6%).
Bellows Falls has the most renters (49.3% rent).
Barnet has the most homeowners (79.9%).

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.

MeasureSt. JohnsburyBellows FallsBarnet
People
Population
5,859Highest
2,891
1,855Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-3.2%
VT: +2.8%
-12.7%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
-2.6%Highest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
42.6±4.5
about the VT average
41.3±6.7Lowest
4% below VT
47.7±5.3Highest
11% above VT
Barnet and St. Johnsbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
20%±3.2Lowest
VT: 17.9%
22.6%±6.4Highest
VT: 17.9%
21.6%±4.9
VT: 17.9%
Bellows Falls and Barnet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
20.6%±3.9Lowest
VT: 21.4%
23.7%±5.7
VT: 21.4%
28.8%±3.8Highest
VT: 21.4%
Barnet and Bellows Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
30.7%
VT: 43.8%
27.5%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
35.6%Highest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.9%±2.6
VT: 7%
8.2%±4.3Highest
VT: 7%
1%±0.9Lowest
VT: 7%
Bellows Falls and St. Johnsbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$53,711±$8kLowest
34% below VT
$56,086±$2k
31% below VT
$67,386±$15kHighest
17% below VT
Barnet and Bellows Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$174,500±$17kLowest
45% below VT
$195,600±$35k
38% below VT
$247,900±$24kHighest
22% below VT
Barnet and Bellows Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$912±$45Lowest
26% below VT
$1,038±$109Highest
16% below VT
$974±$72
21% below VT
Bellows Falls and Barnet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,778Lowest
25% below VT
$4,448
12% below VT
$4,489Highest
11% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
48.2%±11.6
VT: 48.4%
43.9%±16.8Lowest
VT: 48.4%
59.3%±29.9Highest
VT: 48.4%
Barnet and St. Johnsbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
19.7%
VT: 10.1%
25.1%Highest
VT: 10.1%
8.2%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
54%
VT: 73.2%
50.7%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
79.9%Highest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1938Lowest
38 yrs older than VT
1938Lowest
38 yrs older than VT
1974Highest
2 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
19 minLowest
18% below VT
20 min
14% below VT
28 minHighest
17% above VT
Work from home
17.6%±5Highest
VT: 16.9%
6.9%±5.3Lowest
VT: 16.9%
13.3%±4.5
VT: 16.9%
St. Johnsbury 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 #60 of 70 in VT — —
School district — — Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78
High school 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.