Compare towns
Calais vs Barnard vs Ripton vs Marshfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Calais has the most homeowners (92.4%).
Barnard has the most kids (26.9% under 18).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Marshfield has the most affordable homes ($214k 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 | Calais | Barnard | Ripton | Marshfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,713 |
1,211 |
508Lowest |
1,863Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.4% VT: +2.8% |
+4.8% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42±8.6 about the VT average |
42.4±6 about the VT average |
47.7±14.2Highest 11% above VT |
38.7±6.1Lowest 10% below VT |
| Ripton and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.5%±5.4 VT: 17.9% |
26.9%±5.3Highest VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
24.2%±2.9 VT: 17.9% |
| Barnard and Marshfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.6%±5.2 VT: 21.4% |
22%±3.6 VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
17.8%±2.1Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
55.3% VT: 43.8% |
48% VT: 43.8% |
38.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.4%±3.4 VT: 7% |
2.4%±1.8Lowest VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
2.7%±1.4 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $100,625±$27k 24% above VT |
$97,581±$19k 20% above VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$60,313±$10kLowest 26% below VT |
| Ripton and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $390,300±$36k 23% above VT |
$402,600±$71kHighest 27% above VT |
$394,400±$61k 25% above VT |
$214,100±$37kLowest 32% below VT |
| Barnard and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,408±$392Highest 14% above VT |
$1,372±$80 11% above VT |
— | $1,317±$126Lowest 7% above VT |
| Calais and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,586Highest 31% above VT |
$6,038 20% above VT |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$3,668Lowest 27% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49%±38.3 VT: 48.4% |
27%±19.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
65.7%±73.8Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Marshfield and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.8% VT: 10.1% |
2.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.6% VT: 10.1% |
9.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
85.4% VT: 73.2% |
90.9% VT: 73.2% |
84.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest same as VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1972 4 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 32% above VT |
29 min 21% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
29 min 23% above VT |
| Work from home | 23.4%±7.1 VT: 16.9% |
19.3%±10.8 VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
24.5%±7.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Marshfield and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | — |
| 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.