Compare towns
Ryegate vs Plainfield 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).
Plainfield has the most expensive homes ($318k median).
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 | Plainfield | Barnet | Wells River |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,059 |
1,314 |
1,855Highest |
340Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.8% VT: +2.8% |
-0.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— |
| Median age | 41.2±2.6Lowest 4% below VT |
48.1±5.5Highest 12% above VT |
47.7±5.3 11% above VT |
42.7±12.7 about the VT average |
| Plainfield and Barnet 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% |
16.3%±4.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.6%±4.9 VT: 17.9% |
17.1%±6.5 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% |
21.1%±3.5 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% |
48.2%Highest VT: 43.8% |
35.6% VT: 43.8% |
16.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.4Highest VT: 7% |
2.1%±1.3 VT: 7% |
1%±0.9 VT: 7% |
0.6%±3.1Lowest VT: 7% |
| Ryegate and Plainfield 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 |
$69,250±$31kHighest 15% below VT |
$67,386±$15k 17% below VT |
$38,688±$5kLowest 52% below VT |
| Plainfield 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±$32k 31% below VT |
$318,400±$34kHighest about the VT average |
$247,900±$24k 22% below VT |
$170,800±$103kLowest 46% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $908±$236 26% below VT |
$1,153±$103Highest 7% below VT |
$974±$72 21% below VT |
$900±$336Lowest 27% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,472Lowest 31% below VT |
$4,806Highest 5% below 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% |
73.2%±53.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
59.3%±29.9 VT: 48.4% |
47.6%±14.8Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Plainfield and Barnet 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% |
11.6% VT: 10.1% |
8.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
38.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.9% VT: 73.2% |
79.9% VT: 73.2% |
47.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1949 27 yrs older than VT |
1955 21 yrs older than VT |
1974Highest 2 yrs older than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 18% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
28 min 17% above VT |
34 minHighest 43% above VT |
| Work from home | 8.2%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
16.4%±4.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
13.3%±4.5 VT: 16.9% |
5.2%±9.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Plainfield and Barnet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | — | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 | — |
| High school 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.