Compare towns

Ryegate vs Strafford 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 youngest population (median age 41.2).
Strafford has the most expensive homes ($431k median).
Barnet has the most renters (20.1% 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.

MeasureRyegateStraffordBarnet
People
Population
1,059Lowest
1,372
1,855Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-0.8%
VT: +2.8%
-0.4%Highest
VT: +2.8%
-2.6%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
41.2±2.6Lowest
4% below VT
51.4±4.7Highest
19% above VT
47.7±5.3
11% above VT
Strafford 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%
23%±5.2
VT: 17.9%
21.6%±4.9Lowest
VT: 17.9%
Ryegate and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
22.1%±1.5Lowest
VT: 21.4%
22.1%±3.4Lowest
VT: 21.4%
28.8%±3.8Highest
VT: 21.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
29.1%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
53.3%Highest
VT: 43.8%
35.6%
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.4%±1.4
VT: 7%
5.1%±2.6Highest
VT: 7%
1%±0.9Lowest
VT: 7%
Strafford 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±$15kLowest
18% below VT
$110,833±$19kHighest
36% above VT
$67,386±$15k
17% below VT
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$219,300±$32kLowest
31% below VT
$431,300±$40kHighest
36% above VT
$247,900±$24k
22% below VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$908±$236Lowest
26% below VT
$1,125±$789Highest
9% below VT
$974±$72
21% below VT
Strafford 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
$7,149Highest
42% above VT
$4,489
11% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
55.9%±29.7
VT: 48.4%
44.6%±48Lowest
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%
5.2%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
8.2%
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
84.7%
VT: 73.2%
88.9%Highest
VT: 73.2%
79.9%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1949Lowest
27 yrs older than VT
1980Highest
4 yrs newer than VT
1974
2 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 minHighest
18% above VT
23 minLowest
about the VT average
28 min
17% above VT
Work from home
8.2%±3.7Lowest
VT: 16.9%
16.1%±4.3Highest
VT: 16.9%
13.3%±4.5
VT: 16.9%
Strafford and Barnet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district — Strafford School District 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.