Compare towns
Barnet vs Pittsfield vs Reading vs Ryegate
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Pittsfield has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Reading has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.2%).
Ryegate has the youngest population (median age 41.2).
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 | Pittsfield | Reading | Ryegate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,855Highest |
391Lowest |
699 |
1,059 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.6% VT: +2.8% |
-7.7%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.8% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.7±5.3 11% above VT |
53.8±3.5Highest 25% above VT |
51.1±7.6 19% above VT |
41.2±2.6Lowest 4% below VT |
| Pittsfield and Reading 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% |
13.6%±8.4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.5%±4.2 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%±3.8 VT: 21.4% |
30.4%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
28.2%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
22.1%±1.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Pittsfield and Barnet 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% |
45.4% VT: 43.8% |
46%Highest VT: 43.8% |
29.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
2.8%±3.5 VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5Highest VT: 7% |
2.4%±1.4 VT: 7% |
| Reading and Pittsfield 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 |
$65,852±$12kLowest 19% below VT |
$85,000±$19kHighest 5% above VT |
$66,484±$15k 18% below VT |
| Reading and Barnet 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 |
$313,300±$73k about the VT average |
$377,200±$72kHighest 19% above VT |
$219,300±$32kLowest 31% below VT |
| Reading and Pittsfield 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 |
$1,035±$140 16% below VT |
$1,100±$331Highest 11% below VT |
$908±$236Lowest 26% below VT |
| Reading and Pittsfield 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 |
$5,181 about the VT average |
$5,754Highest 14% above VT |
$3,472Lowest 31% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.3%±29.9 VT: 48.4% |
35.6%±43Lowest VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
55.9%±29.7 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%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.4% VT: 10.1% |
8.4% VT: 10.1% |
14.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9% VT: 73.2% |
76.2%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
84.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
84.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1977Highest 1 yr newer than VT |
1969 7 yrs older than VT |
1949Lowest 27 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 17% above VT |
19 minLowest 18% below VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
28 min 18% above VT |
| Work from home | 13.3%±4.5 VT: 16.9% |
28.1%±24.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6 VT: 16.9% |
8.2%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Pittsfield and Reading 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 | — | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | — |
| High school in town | None 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.