Compare towns
Barnet vs Peru vs Westminster 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 oldest population (median age 47.7).
Peru has the highest household income ($152k).
Westminster has the most people working from home (23.1%).
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.
| Measure | Barnet | Peru | Westminster | Ryegate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,855Highest |
434Lowest |
497 |
1,059 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— | — | -0.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.7±5.3Highest 11% above VT |
45.3±8.6 5% above VT |
43.3±11.5 about the VT average |
41.2±2.6Lowest 4% below VT |
| Barnet and Peru 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% |
8.5%±5.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
28.4%±7.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
23.2%±4.6 VT: 17.9% |
| Westminster 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% |
21.4%±5 VT: 21.4% |
19.7%±11.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.1%±1.5 VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.6% VT: 43.8% |
54.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
45.4% VT: 43.8% |
29.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
1.8%±3.2 VT: 7% |
2.2%±3.5 VT: 7% |
2.4%±1.4Highest VT: 7% |
| Ryegate and Westminster 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 |
$151,875±$83kHighest 87% above VT |
$81,000±$22k about the VT average |
$66,484±$15kLowest 18% below VT |
| Peru and Westminster 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 |
$400,000±$105kHighest 26% above VT |
$313,600±$39k about the VT average |
$219,300±$32kLowest 31% below VT |
| Peru and Westminster 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 |
$1,271±$820Highest about the VT average |
$749±$315Lowest 39% below VT |
$908±$236 26% below VT |
| Peru 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 |
$5,000Highest about the VT average |
$4,480 11% below VT |
$3,472Lowest 31% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.3%±29.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
29%±47.8 VT: 48.4% |
6.1%±43.8Lowest 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% |
1.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
2.2% VT: 10.1% |
14.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9% VT: 73.2% |
79%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
80.1% VT: 73.2% |
84.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1949 27 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 17% above VT |
28 min 19% above VT |
30 minHighest 26% above VT |
28 min 18% above VT |
| Work from home | 13.3%±4.5 VT: 16.9% |
13.3%±16.4 VT: 16.9% |
23.1%±15.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
8.2%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Westminster 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 | — | — | #53 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 | — | — | — |
| High school in town | None in town | — | — | — |
| 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.