Compare towns
Barnet vs Reading vs Norwich vs Monroe
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Barnet has the most affordable homes ($248k median).
Reading has the most people working from home (22.9%).
Norwich has the most expensive homes ($638k median).
Monroe has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.6%).
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 | Reading | Norwich | Monroe |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,855 |
699Lowest |
3,640Highest |
786 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.7±5.3 23% above U.S. |
51.1±7.6Highest 31% above U.S. |
40.8±3.2Lowest 5% above U.S. |
51±10.4 31% above U.S. |
| Reading and Monroe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.6%±4.9 U.S.: 22% |
18.5%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
24%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±7.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Norwich and Barnet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 28.8%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
28.2%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
16%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.3%±8.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Monroe 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
46% U.S.: 35.7% |
81%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
25.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.1%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 U.S. |
$85,000±$19k 5% above U.S. |
$140,313±$12kHighest 74% above U.S. |
$88,150±$7k 9% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $247,900±$24kLowest 25% below U.S. |
$377,200±$72k 13% above U.S. |
$637,500±$76kHighest 92% above U.S. |
$312,700±$58k 6% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $974±$72Lowest 31% below U.S. |
$1,100±$331 22% below U.S. |
$1,460±$322Highest 3% above U.S. |
$1,104±$218 22% below U.S. |
| Norwich and Monroe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,489 44% above U.S. |
$5,754 84% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$2,661Lowest 15% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.3%±29.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
63.3%±31.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
30.7%±19.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
48%±39 U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
71.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 28% below U.S. |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.3%±4.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.9%±10.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
3.2%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Norwich School District | Monroe School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.