Compare towns
Barnet vs Strafford vs Williston vs Ryegate
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Strafford has the oldest population (median age 51.4).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
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 | Strafford | Williston | Ryegate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,855 |
1,372 |
10,144Highest |
1,059Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.4% VT: +2.8% |
+16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.8% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.7±5.3 11% above VT |
51.4±4.7Highest 19% above VT |
45.4±4.5 5% above VT |
41.2±2.6Lowest 4% below VT |
| Strafford 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% |
23%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
20.5%±5.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
23.2%±4.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Ryegate and Strafford 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% |
22.1%±3.4 VT: 21.4% |
21%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.1%±1.5 VT: 21.4% |
| Barnet and Strafford 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% |
53.3% VT: 43.8% |
54.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
29.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
5.1%±2.6 VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7Highest VT: 7% |
2.4%±1.4 VT: 7% |
| Williston and Strafford 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 |
$110,833±$19kHighest 36% above VT |
$106,967±$12k 32% above VT |
$66,484±$15kLowest 18% below VT |
| Strafford and Williston 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 |
$431,300±$40k 36% above VT |
$475,800±$40kHighest 50% above VT |
$219,300±$32kLowest 31% below VT |
| Williston and Strafford 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 |
$1,125±$789 9% below VT |
$1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
$908±$236Lowest 26% below VT |
| Williston and Strafford 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 |
$7,149Highest 42% above VT |
$5,592 11% above VT |
$3,472Lowest 31% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.3%±29.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±48Lowest VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4 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% |
5.2% VT: 10.1% |
4.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
14.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9% VT: 73.2% |
88.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
75.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
84.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
1949Lowest 27 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 17% above VT |
23 min about the VT average |
20 minLowest 16% below VT |
28 minHighest 18% above VT |
| Work from home | 13.3%±4.5 VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±4.3 VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
8.2%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Williston and Strafford 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 | — | — | #11 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 | Strafford School District | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | — |
| 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.