Compare towns
Barnard vs Reading vs Calais
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Barnard has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.8%).
Reading has the oldest population (median age 51.1).
Calais has the most homeowners (92.4%).
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 | Barnard | Reading | Calais |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,211 |
699Lowest |
1,713Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+3.2%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42.4±6 about the VT average |
51.1±7.6Highest 19% above VT |
42±8.6Lowest about the VT average |
| Reading and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 26.9%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.5%±4.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
22.5%±5.4 VT: 17.9% |
| Barnard and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22%±3.6 VT: 21.4% |
28.2%±3.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±5.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Reading and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55.3% VT: 43.8% |
46%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
55.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.8Lowest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5 VT: 7% |
7.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
| Calais and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $97,581±$19k 20% above VT |
$85,000±$19kLowest 5% above VT |
$100,625±$27kHighest 24% above VT |
| Calais and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $402,600±$71kHighest 27% above VT |
$377,200±$72kLowest 19% above VT |
$390,300±$36k 23% above VT |
| Barnard and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,372±$80 11% above VT |
$1,100±$331Lowest 11% below VT |
$1,408±$392Highest 14% above VT |
| Calais and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,038 20% above VT |
$5,754Lowest 14% above VT |
$6,586Highest 31% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27%±19.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
49%±38.3 VT: 48.4% |
| Reading and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.4% VT: 10.1% |
8.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.4% VT: 73.2% |
84.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 5 yrs older than VT |
1969Lowest 7 yrs older than VT |
1976Highest same as VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest 21% above VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
31 min 32% above VT |
| Work from home | 19.3%±10.8Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6 VT: 16.9% |
23.4%±7.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Calais and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | None 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.