Compare towns
Barnet vs Ripton vs Sharon vs Ryegate
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Sharon has the most renters (20.3% rent).
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 | Ripton | Sharon | Ryegate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,855Highest |
508Lowest |
1,577 |
1,059 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+3.9% VT: +2.8% |
-0.8% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.7±5.3Highest 11% above VT |
47.7±14.2Highest 11% above VT |
45.6±7.7 6% above VT |
41.2±2.6Lowest 4% below VT |
| Kids under 18 | 21.6%±4.9 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21%±5 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% |
25.1%±3.6 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% |
37.9% 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% |
1.5%±0.9 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 |
$84,375±$17k 4% above VT |
$66,484±$15kLowest 18% below VT |
| Ripton and Sharon 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 |
$346,700±$37k 10% above VT |
$219,300±$32kLowest 31% below VT |
| Ripton and Sharon 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 |
— | $1,386±$155Highest 12% above VT |
$908±$236Lowest 26% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,489 11% below VT |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$5,903Highest 17% above VT |
$3,472Lowest 31% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.3%±29.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
19.8%±17.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
55.9%±29.7 VT: 48.4% |
| Barnet and Ryegate 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% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
14.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9% VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
84.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1981Highest 5 yrs newer 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 |
26 min 12% above VT |
28 minHighest 18% above VT |
| Work from home | 13.3%±4.5 VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.7%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
8.2%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Ripton and Barnet 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 | Sharon 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.