Compare towns
Ryegate vs Calais vs Barnet
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ryegate has the most affordable homes ($219k median).
Calais has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.4%).
Barnet has the oldest population (median age 47.7).
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 | Ryegate | Calais | Barnet |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,059Lowest |
1,713 |
1,855Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.8% VT: +2.8% |
+3.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 41.2±2.6Lowest 4% below VT |
42±8.6 about the VT average |
47.7±5.3Highest 11% above VT |
| Barnet and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23.2%±4.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
22.5%±5.4 VT: 17.9% |
21.6%±4.9Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Ryegate and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.1%±1.5 VT: 21.4% |
21.6%±5.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
28.8%±3.8Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 29.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
55.4%Highest VT: 43.8% |
35.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.4 VT: 7% |
7.4%±3.4Highest VT: 7% |
1%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $66,484±$15kLowest 18% below VT |
$100,625±$27kHighest 24% above VT |
$67,386±$15k 17% below VT |
| Calais and Barnet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $219,300±$32kLowest 31% below VT |
$390,300±$36kHighest 23% above VT |
$247,900±$24k 22% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $908±$236Lowest 26% below VT |
$1,408±$392Highest 14% above VT |
$974±$72 21% below VT |
| Calais and Barnet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,472Lowest 31% below VT |
$6,586Highest 31% above VT |
$4,489 11% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.9%±29.7 VT: 48.4% |
49%±38.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
59.3%±29.9Highest 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 | 14.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.8% VT: 10.1% |
8.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.7% VT: 73.2% |
92.4%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1949Lowest 27 yrs older than VT |
1976Highest same as VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 18% above VT |
31 minHighest 32% above VT |
28 minLowest 17% above VT |
| Work from home | 8.2%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.4%±7.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
13.3%±4.5 VT: 16.9% |
| Calais and Barnet 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 | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.