Compare towns
Ryegate vs Williston 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).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
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 | Williston | Barnet |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,059Lowest |
10,144Highest |
1,855 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.8% VT: +2.8% |
+16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 41.2±2.6Lowest 4% below VT |
45.4±4.5 5% above VT |
47.7±5.3Highest 11% above VT |
| Barnet and Williston 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% |
20.5%±5.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.6%±4.9 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%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
28.8%±3.8Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 29.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
54.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
35.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.4 VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7Highest VT: 7% |
1%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
| Williston 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 |
$106,967±$12kHighest 32% above VT |
$67,386±$15k 17% below VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $219,300±$32kLowest 31% below VT |
$475,800±$40kHighest 50% above VT |
$247,900±$24k 22% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $908±$236Lowest 26% below VT |
$1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
$974±$72 21% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,472Lowest 31% below VT |
$5,592Highest 11% above VT |
$4,489 11% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.9%±29.7 VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4Lowest 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% |
4.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
75.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
79.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1949Lowest 27 yrs older than VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 18% above VT |
20 minLowest 16% below VT |
28 min 17% above VT |
| Work from home | 8.2%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
13.3%±4.5 VT: 16.9% |
| Williston and Barnet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #11 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | — | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | 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.