Compare towns
Barnet vs Highgate vs Ryegate vs Sharon
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 oldest population (median age 47.7).
Highgate has the most people working from home (14.9%).
Ryegate has the most affordable homes ($219k median).
Sharon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.9%).
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.
| Measure | Barnet | Highgate | Ryegate | Sharon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,855 |
3,528Highest |
1,059Lowest |
1,577 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-1.8% VT: +2.8% |
-0.8% VT: +2.8% |
+3.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.7±5.3Highest 11% above VT |
44±7.4 about the VT average |
41.2±2.6Lowest 4% below VT |
45.6±7.7 6% above VT |
| Barnet and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.6%±4.9 VT: 17.9% |
15.8%±5.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23.2%±4.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
21%±5 VT: 17.9% |
| Ryegate and Barnet 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% |
22.2%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
22.1%±1.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
25.1%±3.6 VT: 21.4% |
| Barnet and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.6% VT: 43.8% |
19.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
29.1% VT: 43.8% |
37.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
2.6%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
2.4%±1.4 VT: 7% |
1.5%±0.9 VT: 7% |
| Highgate 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 |
$81,017±$14k about the VT average |
$66,484±$15kLowest 18% below VT |
$84,375±$17kHighest 4% above VT |
| Sharon and Highgate 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 |
$280,500±$21k 11% below VT |
$219,300±$32kLowest 31% below VT |
$346,700±$37kHighest 10% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $974±$72 21% below VT |
$895±$691Lowest 27% below VT |
$908±$236 26% below VT |
$1,386±$155Highest 12% above VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,489 11% below VT |
$3,558 29% below VT |
$3,472Lowest 31% below VT |
$5,903Highest 17% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.3%±29.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
30.5%±11.3 VT: 48.4% |
55.9%±29.7 VT: 48.4% |
19.8%±17.9Lowest 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% |
8.1% VT: 10.1% |
14.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9% VT: 73.2% |
80.7% VT: 73.2% |
84.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1949Lowest 27 yrs older than VT |
1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 17% above VT |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
28 min 18% above VT |
26 minLowest 12% above VT |
| Work from home | 13.3%±4.5 VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±7.2Highest VT: 16.9% |
8.2%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
12.7%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Highgate 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 | — | #43 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | — | Sharon School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Missisquoi Valley Union High School | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.8 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.