Compare towns
Barnet vs Northfield vs Plainfield vs Ryegate
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Northfield has the youngest population (median age 36.4).
Plainfield has the most people working from home (16.4%).
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.
| Measure | Barnet | Northfield | Plainfield | Ryegate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,855 |
5,920Highest |
1,314 |
1,059Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.6% VT: +2.8% |
-4.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.8% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.7±5.3 11% above VT |
36.4±4.1Lowest 16% below VT |
48.1±5.5Highest 12% above VT |
41.2±2.6 4% below VT |
| Plainfield and Barnet 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% |
14.6%±3.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
16.3%±4.7 VT: 17.9% |
23.2%±4.6Highest 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% |
20%±3.8Lowest VT: 21.4% |
21.1%±3.5 VT: 21.4% |
22.1%±1.5 VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.6% VT: 43.8% |
34.6% VT: 43.8% |
48.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
29.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
15.1%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
2.1%±1.3 VT: 7% |
2.4%±1.4 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $67,386±$15k 17% below VT |
$71,768±$13kHighest 12% below VT |
$69,250±$31k 15% below VT |
$66,484±$15kLowest 18% below VT |
| Northfield and Plainfield 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 |
$274,400±$21k 13% below VT |
$318,400±$34kHighest about the VT average |
$219,300±$32kLowest 31% below VT |
| Plainfield and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $974±$72 21% below VT |
$1,018±$207 18% below VT |
$1,153±$103Highest 7% below VT |
$908±$236Lowest 26% below VT |
| Plainfield and Northfield 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 |
$4,878Highest 3% below VT |
$4,806 5% below VT |
$3,472Lowest 31% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.3%±29.9 VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±17.7 VT: 48.4% |
73.2%±53.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
55.9%±29.7Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Plainfield and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
12.5% VT: 10.1% |
11.6% VT: 10.1% |
14.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9% VT: 73.2% |
73.5%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
80.9% VT: 73.2% |
84.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Highest 2 yrs older than VT |
1956 20 yrs older than VT |
1955 21 yrs older than VT |
1949Lowest 27 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 17% above VT |
27 min 16% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
28 minHighest 18% above VT |
| Work from home | 13.3%±4.5 VT: 16.9% |
12.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
16.4%±4.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
8.2%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Plainfield 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 | — | #42 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 | — | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Northfield Middle/High School | — | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.0 |
— | — |
| 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.