Compare towns

Barnet vs Peru vs Windham 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).
Windham has the most people working from home (20.5%).
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.

MeasureBarnetPeruWindhamRyegate
People
Population
1,855Highest
434Lowest
594
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
44.2±7.4
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%
17.5%±7.9
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%
21.4%±5Lowest
VT: 21.4%
23.2%±8.1
VT: 21.4%
22.1%±1.5
VT: 21.4%
Barnet and Windham 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%
54.3%Highest
VT: 43.8%
48.1%
VT: 43.8%
29.1%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
1%±0.9
VT: 7%
1.8%±3.2
VT: 7%
0.8%±1.1Lowest
VT: 7%
2.4%±1.4Highest
VT: 7%
Ryegate and Peru 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
$94,500±$12k
16% above VT
$66,484±$15kLowest
18% below VT
Peru and Windham 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
$353,900±$20k
12% above VT
$219,300±$32kLowest
31% below VT
Peru and Windham 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
—
$908±$236Lowest
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
$5,000
about the VT average
$5,951Highest
18% above VT
$3,472Lowest
31% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
59.3%±29.9Highest
VT: 48.4%
29%±47.8Lowest
VT: 48.4%
41.2%±94
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%
9.9%
VT: 10.1%
14.5%Highest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
79.9%
VT: 73.2%
79%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
82.9%
VT: 73.2%
84.7%Highest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1974
2 yrs older than VT
1981
5 yrs newer than VT
1982Highest
6 yrs newer than VT
1949Lowest
27 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 min
17% above VT
28 minHighest
19% above VT
27 minLowest
14% above VT
28 min
18% above VT
Work from home
13.3%±4.5
VT: 16.9%
13.3%±16.4
VT: 16.9%
20.5%±5.6Highest
VT: 16.9%
8.2%±3.7Lowest
VT: 16.9%
Windham and Barnet 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 — — —
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.