Compare towns
Wells River vs Highgate vs Barton vs Ryegate
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wells River has the most renters (52.1% rent).
Highgate has the most expensive homes ($281k median).
Barton has the most affordable homes ($147k median).
Ryegate has the shortest commute (28 min average).
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 | Wells River | Highgate | Barton | Ryegate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 340Lowest |
3,528Highest |
730 |
1,059 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -1.8% VT: +2.8% |
-6.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42.7±12.7 about the VT average |
44±7.4Highest about the VT average |
40±5.5Lowest 7% below VT |
41.2±2.6 4% below VT |
| Highgate and Wells River are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.1%±6.5 VT: 17.9% |
15.8%±5.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
24.1%±5.4Highest VT: 17.9% |
23.2%±4.6 VT: 17.9% |
| Barton and Ryegate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.4%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
22.2%±5.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
21.2%±4.2 VT: 21.4% |
22.1%±1.5 VT: 21.4% |
| Highgate and Ryegate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 16.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
19.5% VT: 43.8% |
21.7% VT: 43.8% |
29.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.6%±3.1Lowest VT: 7% |
2.6%±2.1Highest VT: 7% |
1.9%±1.6 VT: 7% |
2.4%±1.4 VT: 7% |
| Highgate and Ryegate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $38,688±$5kLowest 52% below VT |
$81,017±$14kHighest about the VT average |
$40,833±$8k 50% below VT |
$66,484±$15k 18% below VT |
| Highgate and Ryegate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $170,800±$103k 46% below VT |
$280,500±$21kHighest 11% below VT |
$146,900±$30kLowest 54% below VT |
$219,300±$32k 31% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $900±$336 27% below VT |
$895±$691 27% below VT |
$761±$150Lowest 38% below VT |
$908±$236Highest 26% below VT |
| Ryegate and Wells River are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,154Highest 18% below VT |
$3,558 29% below VT |
$3,185Lowest 37% below VT |
$3,472 31% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.6%±14.8 VT: 48.4% |
30.5%±11.3Lowest VT: 48.4% |
58.8%±18.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
55.9%±29.7 VT: 48.4% |
| Barton and Ryegate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 38.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
25.8% VT: 10.1% |
14.5% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 47.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
80.7% VT: 73.2% |
52.7% VT: 73.2% |
84.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1945 31 yrs older than VT |
1949 27 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 43% above VT |
31 min 32% above VT |
31 min 32% above VT |
28 minLowest 18% above VT |
| Work from home | 5.2%±9.3Lowest VT: 16.9% |
14.9%±7.2 VT: 16.9% |
16.5%±10.4Highest VT: 16.9% |
8.2%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Barton and Highgate 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 | — | #43 of 70 in VT | #38 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | — | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | — | — |
| High school in town | — | Missisquoi Valley Union High School | — | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.8 |
— | — |
| 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.