Town · Vermont
Bethel, Vermont
Bethel, town, in Windsor County, Vermont. Bethel had 1,887 residents on July 1, 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, down 2.8% since 2020; the 2020 Census counted 1,942 and the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 1,736 (±228). GEOID 5002705800.
Residents, July 2025 estimate
1,887
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 1,942 · ACS 2020-2024: 1,736 ±228
Median household income
$75,822
±$7,137 (90% margin)
Vermont: $81,203
Median home value
$238,000
±$41,133 (90% margin)
Vermont: $316,600
Median gross rent
$1,335
±$220 (90% margin)
Vermont: $1,234
Where is Bethel and what county is it in?
Bethel is a town in Windsor County, Vermont. It covers 45.5 square miles of land, 43 residents per square mile in 2020.
One place lies inside Bethel: Bethel (CDP, 670 in 2020).
Bethel is in the Lebanon-Claremont, NH-VT micropolitan statistical area, which takes in 4 counties (Census Bureau delineation, July 2023).
Source: 2024 Gazetteer and 2020 place-by-county files, U.S. Census Bureau · Census reference files
How many people live in Bethel, and is it growing?
The Census Bureau estimates that 1,887 people lived in Bethel on July 1, 2025, down 2.8% since 2020, while Vermont grew 0.2%. The 2020 Census counted 1,942 residents. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a five-year sample, puts the population at 1,736 (±228).
| Measure | Bethel | Windsor County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 1,736±228 | 57,990 | −375 |
| Households | 864±117 | 25,293 | no clear change |
| Average household size | 2.01±0.18 | 2.26 | −0.61 |
| Housing units | 1,120±131 | 34,846 | +180 |
Bethel's population since 2000
From 1,968 in 2000 to 1,887 in 2025: down 4.1%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts, each for Bethel as it was drawn that year: a place that annexed land, or a community that has since incorporated, covered a different area then. The 2005 figure is the Census Bureau's intercensal estimate, revised to fit the 2000 and 2010 counts and drawn on 2010 boundaries; 2015 and 2025 are July 1 estimates made from the census before them.
Source: The 2000, 2010 and 2020 Census counts and the Census Bureau's population estimates (intercensal 2000-2010, Vintage 2020, Vintage 2025) · Census population estimates
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); Census PEP Vintage 2025 (SUB-EST2025, CO-EST2025); 2020 Census P.L. 94-171 · Check it at data.census.gov
Who lives in Bethel?
The median resident of Bethel is 50.7 years old; 11.4% are under 18 and 25.5% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 93.4%, then Hispanic or Latino residents (of any race) at 3.4%.
| Measure | Bethel | Windsor County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 50.7±3.7 | 47.6 | +11.2 |
| Under 18 years | 11.4%±3.6 pts | 17.6% | – |
| 65 years and over | 25.5%±5.3 pts | 25.5% | – |
| Male | 54.0%±4.0 pts | 49.3% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 3.4%±2.8 pts | 2.3% | – |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 93.4%±3.3 pts | 92.1% | no clear change |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 0.0%±1.4 pts | 0.5% | – |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 0.9%±1.2 pts | 1.0% | – |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.0%±1.4 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0%±1.4 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 2.3%±1.4 pts | 3.9% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.0%±1.4 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 2.9%±2.0 pts | 3.2% | – |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 3.5%±2.2 pts | 4.0% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 10.6%±3.8 pts | 7.0% | – |
| With a disability | 14.6%±4.1 pts | 15.5% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 2.6%±1.3 pts | 3.6% | no clear change |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 96.1%±2.0 pts | 94.9% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 35.7%±6.8 pts | 42.9% | no clear change |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 10.0%±3.1 pts | 18.3% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 96.9%±2.1 pts | 89.5% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 2.2%±1.9 pts | 4.1% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profiles DP02, DP05) · Check it at data.census.gov
What do households in Bethel earn?
Half of Bethel's 864 households earn less than $75,822 a year (±$7,137), against $77,594 in Windsor County and $81,203 in Vermont. In 2015-2019 it was $73,072 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 8.2% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Bethel | Windsor County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $75,822±$7,137 | $77,594 | no clear change |
| Mean household income | $93,660±$10,996 | $109,025 | – |
| Per capita income | $47,191±$4,428 | $48,626 | +$12,483 |
| People below the poverty line | 8.2%±3.8 pts | 9.2% | no clear change |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 3.0%±4.8 pts | 11.2% | – |
| Households receiving SNAP | 7.4%±3.3 pts | 9.6% | – |
| Households with a computer | 94.3%±4.0 pts | 95.5% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 86.6%±4.6 pts | 90.1% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What does housing cost in Bethel?
Owners occupy 83.6% of Bethel's occupied homes and renters 16.4%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $238,000 by its owner (±$41,133). The median renter pays $1,335 a month including utilities, and 29.9% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Bethel | Windsor County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $238,000±$41,133 | $296,400 | no clear change |
| Median gross rent | $1,335±$220 | $1,118 | +$387 |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 29.9%±18.3 pts | 32.6% | no clear change |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $1,691±$114 | $1,850 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 83.6%±4.9 pts | 74.8% | +10.8 pts |
| Renter-occupied homes | 16.4%±4.9 pts | 25.2% | – |
| Housing units | 1,120±131 | 34,846 | +180 |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 0.0%±3.4 pts | 0.8% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 0.0%±14.6 pts | 3.4% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 79.5%±5.5 pts | 70.8% | – |
| Mobile homes | 0.9%±0.9 pts | 5.5% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 0.0%±2.2 pts | 0.6% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 5.7%±3.4 pts | 3.6% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 38.2%±7.4 pts | 27.2% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 3.5%±2.2 pts | 6.1% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP04) · Check it at data.census.gov
How many new homes is Bethel building?
Builders took permits for 1 new housing units in Bethel in 2025 (1 in single-family houses), 0.5 per 1,000 residents against 3.6 across Vermont.
Counts of units in permits a local office issued; not every permitted unit is built. A year marked with months was reported for part of the year.
Source: Building Permits Survey, annual place files 2019-2025, U.S. Census Bureau · Census Building Permits Survey
How do people in Bethel work and get to work?
83.0% of Bethel's workers drive alone and 7.1% work from home. The average trip to work takes 28.0 minutes.
| Measure | Bethel | Windsor County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 66.0%±6.3 pts | 61.0% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 1.8%±1.9 pts | 4.4% | – |
| Drove alone to work | 83.0%±5.5 pts | 67.5% | – |
| Carpooled | 7.7%±4.7 pts | 8.0% | – |
| Public transportation | 0.0%±2.5 pts | 0.7% | – |
| Walked | 2.1%±3.2 pts | 3.6% | – |
| Worked from home | 7.1%±3.4 pts | 17.9% | no clear change |
| Mean travel time to work | 28.0 min±3.9 | 22.9 min | no clear change |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What census tracts are in Bethel?
1 census tract lies mostly in Bethel (2020 census blocks).
| Tract | Residents, 2020-2024 | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 9668Windsor County | 3,125 | $73,652 |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 block assignment files (tract share = share of the tract's census blocks in Bethel) · Census block assignment files
How does Bethel compare with other places in Vermont?
By the Census Bureau's July 2025 estimates, Bethel is the 5,062nd-most populous of the 16,079 U.S. towns and townships that have one and the 84th-most populous of 237 in Vermont.
Bethel ranks 111th of 198 places in Vermont with 1,000 or more residents and a reliable estimate, by median household income.
| Measure | Rank | Of |
|---|---|---|
| Population, July 2025 estimate | 84th | 237 |
| Growth 2020-2025 (PEP) | 154th | 173 |
| Residents per square mile | 140th | 202 |
| Median household income | 111th | 198 |
| Per capita income | 74th | 202 |
| Median home value | 140th | 201 |
| Median gross rent | 46th | 187 |
| Poverty rate | 107th | 162 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 118th | 200 |
| Median age | 42nd | 202 |
| Owner-occupied share | 81st | 201 |
| Work from home | 174th | 185 |
| Travel time to work | 53rd | 202 |
Bethel's figures with every place in Vermont (CSV)
Every place in Vermont, sortable · Compare Bethel with other places
Source: PlainCities ranks computed from the American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) and PEP Vintage 2025 · How ranks are computed
How reliable are the figures for Bethel?
16 of the 57 figures for Bethel on this page carry a coefficient of variation over 40% and are marked with a ring: they come from a small sample, so read them as rough.
The American Community Survey samples about one household in eight over five years, so every figure is an estimate with a 90% margin of error (shown under each value). A ring marks an estimate whose coefficient of variation is over 40%. A change is called only when the gap between the two periods is larger than their combined 90% margin (the square root of the sum of the two squared margins), the Census Bureau's test. How to read a margin of error.
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026): margins of error as published · ACS technical documentation
How these figures are made: methodology and release checks · reading a margin of error · every state · corrections
Not on this page: crime, weather and schools for Bethel are other agencies' records. Crime: the FBI's Crime Data Explorer · climate: NOAA's U.S. Climate Normals · schools: the National Center for Education Statistics' school search.