Compare towns

Barnet vs Fairfield vs Ryegate

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

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Barnet has the most people working from home (13.3%).
Fairfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.1%).
Ryegate has the most affordable homes ($219k median).

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.

MeasureBarnetFairfieldRyegate
People
Population
1,855
1,938Highest
1,059Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-2.6%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
+8.1%Highest
VT: +2.8%
-0.8%
VT: +2.8%
Median age
47.7±5.3Highest
11% above VT
42.3±2.7
about the VT average
41.2±2.6Lowest
4% below VT
Barnet and Fairfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
21.6%±4.9Lowest
VT: 17.9%
25.4%±5Highest
VT: 17.9%
23.2%±4.6
VT: 17.9%
Fairfield and Ryegate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
28.8%±3.8Highest
VT: 21.4%
14.3%±1.8Lowest
VT: 21.4%
22.1%±1.5
VT: 21.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
35.6%Highest
VT: 43.8%
30.2%
VT: 43.8%
29.1%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
1%±0.9Lowest
VT: 7%
3.5%±1.6Highest
VT: 7%
2.4%±1.4
VT: 7%
Fairfield and Ryegate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$67,386±$15k
17% below VT
$87,019±$22kHighest
7% above VT
$66,484±$15kLowest
18% below VT
Fairfield and Barnet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$247,900±$24k
22% below VT
$320,600±$22kHighest
about the VT average
$219,300±$32kLowest
31% below VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$974±$72
21% below VT
$1,056±$441Highest
14% below VT
$908±$236Lowest
26% below VT
Fairfield and Barnet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,489
11% below VT
$4,816Highest
4% below VT
$3,472Lowest
31% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
59.3%±29.9Highest
VT: 48.4%
29.2%±20.4Lowest
VT: 48.4%
55.9%±29.7
VT: 48.4%
Barnet and Ryegate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
8.2%
VT: 10.1%
5.1%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
14.5%Highest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
79.9%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
88.5%Highest
VT: 73.2%
84.7%
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1974
2 yrs older than VT
1984Highest
8 yrs newer than VT
1949Lowest
27 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 min
17% above VT
24 minLowest
about the VT average
28 minHighest
18% above VT
Work from home
13.3%±4.5Highest
VT: 16.9%
7.8%±3Lowest
VT: 16.9%
8.2%±3.7
VT: 16.9%
Barnet and Ryegate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 Maple Run Unified Union School District #57 —
High school in town None in town None in town —
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.