Compare towns

Barnet vs Williston vs Ryegate vs Peacham

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%).
Ryegate has the most affordable homes ($219k median).
Peacham has the most people working from home (24.2%).

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.

MeasureBarnetWillistonRyegatePeacham
People
Population
1,855
10,144Highest
1,059
887Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-2.6%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
+16.2%Highest
VT: +2.8%
-0.8%
VT: +2.8%
-2.3%
VT: +2.8%
Median age
47.7±5.3
11% above VT
45.4±4.5
5% above VT
41.2±2.6Lowest
4% below VT
50.1±5.7Highest
16% above 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%
23.2%±4.6Highest
VT: 17.9%
20.7%±6
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%
22.1%±1.5
VT: 21.4%
33.6%±2.6Highest
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%
29.1%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
48.9%
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
1%±0.9Lowest
VT: 7%
5.7%±2.7Highest
VT: 7%
2.4%±1.4
VT: 7%
5.4%±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
$66,484±$15kLowest
18% below VT
$90,000±$28k
11% above 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
$219,300±$32kLowest
31% below VT
$302,000±$64k
5% below VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$974±$72
21% below VT
$1,832±$130Highest
48% above VT
$908±$236Lowest
26% below VT
$1,028±$248
17% below VT
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,489
11% below VT
$5,592
11% above VT
$3,472Lowest
31% below VT
$5,605Highest
11% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
59.3%±29.9
VT: 48.4%
46.9%±17.4Lowest
VT: 48.4%
55.9%±29.7
VT: 48.4%
66.7%±17.7Highest
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%
14.5%Highest
VT: 10.1%
10.6%
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
79.9%
VT: 73.2%
75.1%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
84.7%Highest
VT: 73.2%
76.1%
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1974
2 yrs older than VT
1993Highest
17 yrs newer than VT
1949Lowest
27 yrs older than VT
1976
same as VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 min
17% above VT
20 minLowest
16% below VT
28 min
18% above VT
31 minHighest
31% above VT
Work from home
13.3%±4.5
VT: 16.9%
22.3%±7.6
VT: 16.9%
8.2%±3.7Lowest
VT: 16.9%
24.2%±16.9Highest
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.