Compare towns
Barnet vs Wells vs Wheelock 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).
Wells has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.6%).
Wheelock has the most people working from home (21.1%).
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 | Wells | Wheelock | Ryegate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,855Highest |
1,148 |
717Lowest |
1,059 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.6% VT: +2.8% |
+5.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-6.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.8% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.7±5.3 11% above VT |
50.7±5.2 18% above VT |
51±5.6Highest 18% above VT |
41.2±2.6Lowest 4% below VT |
| Wheelock and Wells 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% |
15.1%±4.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.5 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% |
24.5%±2.2 VT: 21.4% |
29.4%±4.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
22.1%±1.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Wheelock 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%Highest VT: 43.8% |
29.7% VT: 43.8% |
34.9% VT: 43.8% |
29.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
3%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
2.8%±2.3 VT: 7% |
2.4%±1.4 VT: 7% |
| Wells and Wheelock 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 |
$75,417±$11kHighest 7% below VT |
$64,792±$20kLowest 20% below VT |
$66,484±$15k 18% below VT |
| Wells and Barnet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $247,900±$24kHighest 22% below VT |
$243,000±$42k 23% below VT |
$189,600±$37kLowest 40% below VT |
$219,300±$32k 31% below VT |
| Barnet and Wells 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 |
$1,313±$282Highest 6% above VT |
— | $908±$236Lowest 26% below VT |
| Wells and Barnet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,489Highest 11% below VT |
$3,308 34% below VT |
$2,937Lowest 42% below VT |
$3,472 31% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.3%±29.9 VT: 48.4% |
62.5%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
55.9%±29.7 VT: 48.4% |
| Wells 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% |
15.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.7% VT: 10.1% |
14.5% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
93.4% VT: 73.2% |
97.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
84.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1989Highest 13 yrs newer than VT |
1949Lowest 27 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 17% above VT |
48 minHighest 102% above VT |
28 minLowest 17% above VT |
28 min 18% above VT |
| Work from home | 13.3%±4.5 VT: 16.9% |
11.3%±6.2 VT: 16.9% |
21.1%±16Highest VT: 16.9% |
8.2%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Wheelock 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 | Wells Spring Unified Union School District #69 | — | — |
| High school 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.