Compare towns
Barnet vs Sharon vs Waterville 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 people working from home (13.3%).
Sharon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.9%).
Waterville has the oldest population (median age 49.1).
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.
| Measure | Barnet | Sharon | Waterville | Ryegate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,855Highest |
1,577 |
680Lowest |
1,059 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+1.9% VT: +2.8% |
-0.8% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.7±5.3 11% above VT |
45.6±7.7 6% above VT |
49.1±8.2Highest 14% above VT |
41.2±2.6Lowest 4% below VT |
| Waterville 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% |
21%±5 VT: 17.9% |
20.4%±8.2Lowest 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%±3.8Highest VT: 21.4% |
25.1%±3.6 VT: 21.4% |
14.4%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.1%±1.5 VT: 21.4% |
| Barnet and Sharon 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% |
37.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
32.1% VT: 43.8% |
29.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
1.5%±0.9 VT: 7% |
5.3%±3.3Highest VT: 7% |
2.4%±1.4 VT: 7% |
| Waterville and Ryegate 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 |
$84,375±$17kHighest 4% above VT |
$71,250±$27k 12% below VT |
$66,484±$15kLowest 18% below VT |
| Sharon and Waterville 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 |
$346,700±$37kHighest 10% above VT |
$236,300±$15k 25% below VT |
$219,300±$32kLowest 31% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $974±$72 21% below VT |
$1,386±$155Highest 12% above VT |
$1,110±$93 10% below VT |
$908±$236Lowest 26% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,489 11% below VT |
$5,903Highest 17% above VT |
$3,957 21% below VT |
$3,472Lowest 31% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.3%±29.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
19.8%±17.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±27.2 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% |
3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
4.9% VT: 10.1% |
14.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9% VT: 73.2% |
79.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
79.9% VT: 73.2% |
84.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
1949Lowest 27 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 17% above VT |
26 minLowest 12% above VT |
38 minHighest 60% above VT |
28 min 18% above VT |
| Work from home | 13.3%±4.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.7%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
8.5%±3 VT: 16.9% |
8.2%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Barnet and Sharon 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 | Sharon School District | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A | — |
| 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.