Compare towns
Barnet vs Norwich vs Reading
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 affordable homes ($248k median).
Norwich has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
Reading has the most people working from home (22.9%).
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 | Norwich | Reading |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,855 |
3,640Highest |
699Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+5.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+3.2% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.7±5.3 11% above VT |
40.8±3.2Lowest 5% below VT |
51.1±7.6Highest 19% above VT |
| Reading 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% |
24%±5.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
18.5%±4.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Norwich 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% |
16%±3.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
28.2%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
| Barnet and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.6%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
81%Highest VT: 43.8% |
46% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
4.8%±2.4Highest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5 VT: 7% |
| Norwich and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $67,386±$15kLowest 17% below VT |
$140,313±$12kHighest 73% above VT |
$85,000±$19k 5% above VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $247,900±$24kLowest 22% below VT |
$637,500±$76kHighest 101% above VT |
$377,200±$72k 19% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $974±$72Lowest 21% below VT |
$1,460±$322Highest 18% above VT |
$1,100±$331 11% below VT |
| Norwich and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,489Lowest 11% below VT |
$10,000+Highest at least 98% above VT |
$5,754 14% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.3%±29.9 VT: 48.4% |
30.7%±19.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Reading and Barnet 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% |
2.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.4%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9% VT: 73.2% |
71.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
84.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1982Highest 6 yrs newer than VT |
1969Lowest 7 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 17% above VT |
19 minLowest 19% below VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
| Work from home | 13.3%±4.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
21%±5.3 VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Reading and Norwich 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 | — | #1 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 | Norwich School District | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 |
| High school in town | None 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.