Compare towns

Barnet vs Plainfield vs Ripton

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 kids (21.6% under 18).
Plainfield has the oldest housing (typical home built 1955).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).

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.

MeasureBarnetPlainfieldRipton
People
Population
1,855Highest
1,314
508Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-2.6%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
-0.6%
VT: +2.8%
+25.7%Highest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
47.7±5.3Lowest
11% above VT
48.1±5.5Highest
12% above VT
47.7±14.2Lowest
11% above 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%±4.9Highest
VT: 17.9%
16.3%±4.7
VT: 17.9%
11.8%±6.3Lowest
VT: 17.9%
Barnet and Plainfield 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%
21.1%±3.5Lowest
VT: 21.4%
30.5%±7.1Highest
VT: 21.4%
Ripton 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%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
48.2%Highest
VT: 43.8%
48%
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
1%±0.9Lowest
VT: 7%
2.1%±1.3
VT: 7%
20.1%±6.3Highest
VT: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$67,386±$15kLowest
17% below VT
$69,250±$31k
15% below VT
$112,917±$15kHighest
39% above VT
Ripton 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±$24kLowest
22% below VT
$318,400±$34k
about the VT average
$394,400±$61kHighest
25% above VT
Ripton and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$974±$72Lowest
21% below VT
$1,153±$103Highest
7% below VT
—
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,489Lowest
11% below VT
$4,806
5% below VT
$4,915Highest
about the VT average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
59.3%±29.9
VT: 48.4%
73.2%±53.9Highest
VT: 48.4%
52.9%±100Lowest
VT: 48.4%
Plainfield 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%
11.6%Highest
VT: 10.1%
8.6%
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
79.9%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
80.9%
VT: 73.2%
90.9%Highest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1974Highest
2 yrs older than VT
1955Lowest
21 yrs older than VT
1973
3 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 minHighest
17% above VT
24 minLowest
about the VT average
24 min
about the VT average
Work from home
13.3%±4.5Lowest
VT: 16.9%
16.4%±4.4
VT: 16.9%
17.2%±8.7Highest
VT: 16.9%
Ripton and Plainfield 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 — Addison Central Unified Union School District #55
High school 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.