Compare towns
Barnet vs Reading vs Norwich vs Ryegate
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Reading has the most people working from home (22.9%).
Norwich has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
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 | Reading | Norwich | Ryegate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,855 |
699Lowest |
3,640Highest |
1,059 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.2% VT: +2.8% |
+5.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.8% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.7±5.3 11% above VT |
51.1±7.6Highest 19% above VT |
40.8±3.2Lowest 5% below VT |
41.2±2.6 4% below VT |
| Reading and Barnet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.6%±4.9 VT: 17.9% |
18.5%±4.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
24%±5.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
23.2%±4.6 VT: 17.9% |
| Norwich 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% |
28.2%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
16%±3.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.1%±1.5 VT: 21.4% |
| Barnet and Reading 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% |
46% VT: 43.8% |
81%Highest VT: 43.8% |
29.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5 VT: 7% |
4.8%±2.4Highest VT: 7% |
2.4%±1.4 VT: 7% |
| 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±$15k 17% below VT |
$85,000±$19k 5% above VT |
$140,313±$12kHighest 73% above VT |
$66,484±$15kLowest 18% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $247,900±$24k 22% below VT |
$377,200±$72k 19% above VT |
$637,500±$76kHighest 101% above VT |
$219,300±$32kLowest 31% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $974±$72 21% below VT |
$1,100±$331 11% below VT |
$1,460±$322Highest 18% above VT |
$908±$236Lowest 26% below VT |
| Norwich and Reading 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 |
$5,754 14% above VT |
$10,000+Highest at least 98% above VT |
$3,472Lowest 31% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.3%±29.9 VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
30.7%±19.9Lowest 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% VT: 10.1% |
8.4% VT: 10.1% |
2.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
14.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9% VT: 73.2% |
84.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
71.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
84.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1969 7 yrs older 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 |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
19 minLowest 19% below VT |
28 min 18% above VT |
| Work from home | 13.3%±4.5 VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
21%±5.3 VT: 16.9% |
8.2%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| 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 | — |
| High school 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 |
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.