Compare towns
Barnet vs Williston vs Peacham vs Ryegate
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Peacham has the most people working from home (24.2%).
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 | Williston | Peacham | Ryegate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,855 |
10,144Highest |
887Lowest |
1,059 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.3% VT: +2.8% |
-0.8% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.7±5.3 11% above VT |
45.4±4.5 5% above VT |
50.1±5.7Highest 16% above VT |
41.2±2.6Lowest 4% below VT |
| Peacham 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% |
20.5%±5.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
20.7%±6 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% |
21%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
33.6%±2.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
22.1%±1.5 VT: 21.4% |
| Peacham 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% |
54.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
48.9% VT: 43.8% |
29.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7Highest VT: 7% |
5.4%±4 VT: 7% |
2.4%±1.4 VT: 7% |
| Williston and Peacham 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 |
$106,967±$12kHighest 32% above VT |
$90,000±$28k 11% above VT |
$66,484±$15kLowest 18% below VT |
| Williston and Peacham 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 |
$475,800±$40kHighest 50% above VT |
$302,000±$64k 5% below VT |
$219,300±$32kLowest 31% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $974±$72 21% below VT |
$1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
$1,028±$248 17% below VT |
$908±$236Lowest 26% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,489 11% below VT |
$5,592 11% above VT |
$5,605Highest 11% above VT |
$3,472Lowest 31% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.3%±29.9 VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4Lowest VT: 48.4% |
66.7%±17.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
55.9%±29.7 VT: 48.4% |
| Peacham and Barnet 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% |
4.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
10.6% VT: 10.1% |
14.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9% VT: 73.2% |
75.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
76.1% VT: 73.2% |
84.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
1976 same as VT |
1949Lowest 27 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 17% above VT |
20 minLowest 16% below VT |
31 minHighest 31% above VT |
28 min 18% above VT |
| Work from home | 13.3%±4.5 VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6 VT: 16.9% |
24.2%±16.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
8.2%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Peacham and Williston 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 | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Peacham 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.