Compare towns

Barnet vs Ripton 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

Barnet has the most renters (20.1% rent).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Reading has the most people working from home (22.9%).
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.

MeasureBarnetRiptonReadingRyegate
People
Population
1,855Highest
508Lowest
699
1,059
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-2.6%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
+25.7%Highest
VT: +2.8%
+3.2%
VT: +2.8%
-0.8%
VT: +2.8%
Median age
47.7±5.3
11% above VT
47.7±14.2
11% above VT
51.1±7.6Highest
19% above VT
41.2±2.6Lowest
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%
11.8%±6.3Lowest
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%
30.5%±7.1Highest
VT: 21.4%
28.2%±3.3
VT: 21.4%
22.1%±1.5Lowest
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%
VT: 43.8%
48%Highest
VT: 43.8%
46%
VT: 43.8%
29.1%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
1%±0.9Lowest
VT: 7%
20.1%±6.3Highest
VT: 7%
3.1%±2.5
VT: 7%
2.4%±1.4
VT: 7%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$67,386±$15k
17% below VT
$112,917±$15kHighest
39% above VT
$85,000±$19k
5% above VT
$66,484±$15kLowest
18% below VT
Ripton and Reading 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
$394,400±$61kHighest
25% above VT
$377,200±$72k
19% above VT
$219,300±$32kLowest
31% below VT
Ripton and Reading 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
—
$1,100±$331Highest
11% below VT
$908±$236Lowest
26% below VT
Reading 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
$4,915
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%
52.9%±100Lowest
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%
8.6%
VT: 10.1%
8.4%
VT: 10.1%
14.5%Highest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
79.9%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
90.9%Highest
VT: 73.2%
84.9%
VT: 73.2%
84.7%
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1974Highest
2 yrs older than VT
1973
3 yrs older 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
24 minLowest
about the VT average
33 minHighest
41% above VT
28 min
18% above VT
Work from home
13.3%±4.5
VT: 16.9%
17.2%±8.7
VT: 16.9%
22.9%±10.6Highest
VT: 16.9%
8.2%±3.7Lowest
VT: 16.9%
Reading and Ripton 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 Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 —
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.