Compare towns
Ryegate vs Middlesex vs Barnet vs Wells River
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 kids (23.2% under 18).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
Barnet has the oldest population (median age 47.7).
Wells River has the most renters (52.1% rent).
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 | Middlesex | Barnet | Wells River |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,059 |
1,943Highest |
1,855 |
340Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.8% VT: +2.8% |
+2.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 41.2±2.6Lowest 4% below VT |
44.4±3.9 3% above VT |
47.7±5.3Highest 11% above VT |
42.7±12.7 about the VT average |
| Barnet and Middlesex 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% |
21.3%±3.1 VT: 17.9% |
21.6%±4.9 VT: 17.9% |
17.1%±6.5Lowest 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+ | 22.1%±1.5 VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
28.8%±3.8Highest VT: 21.4% |
19.4%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 29.1% VT: 43.8% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
35.6% VT: 43.8% |
16.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.4 VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
1%±0.9 VT: 7% |
0.6%±3.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Middlesex and Ryegate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $66,484±$15k 18% below VT |
$109,632±$13kHighest 35% above VT |
$67,386±$15k 17% below VT |
$38,688±$5kLowest 52% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $219,300±$32k 31% below VT |
$376,300±$40kHighest 19% above VT |
$247,900±$24k 22% below VT |
$170,800±$103kLowest 46% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $908±$236 26% below VT |
$1,333±$359Highest 8% above VT |
$974±$72 21% below VT |
$900±$336Lowest 27% below VT |
| Middlesex 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 |
$6,483Highest 29% above VT |
$4,489 11% below VT |
$4,154 18% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.9%±29.7 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
59.3%±29.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
47.6%±14.8 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% VT: 10.1% |
3.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.2% VT: 10.1% |
38.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.7% VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79.9% VT: 73.2% |
47.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1949 27 yrs older than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 18% above VT |
27 minLowest 17% above VT |
28 min 17% above VT |
34 minHighest 43% above VT |
| Work from home | 8.2%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
13.3%±4.5 VT: 16.9% |
5.2%±9.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Middlesex 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 | 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.