Compare towns
Appleton vs Barnet vs Wallingford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Appleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).
Barnet has the most people working from home (13.3%).
Wallingford has the highest household income ($80k).
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 | Appleton | Barnet | Wallingford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,360Lowest |
1,855 |
2,286Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.2±7.4Highest 26% above U.S. |
47.7±5.3 23% above U.S. |
45.9±10.8Lowest 18% above U.S. |
| Appleton and Barnet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.3%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.6%±4.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±5 U.S.: 22% |
| Barnet and Wallingford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.1%±9.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
28.8%±3.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.9%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Barnet and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
35.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.5%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Appleton and Wallingford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $53,618±$19kLowest 34% below U.S. |
$67,386±$15k 17% below U.S. |
$80,230±$15kHighest about the U.S. average |
| Wallingford and Barnet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $235,600±$33kLowest 29% below U.S. |
$247,900±$24k 25% below U.S. |
$261,900±$44kHighest 21% below U.S. |
| Wallingford and Barnet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,104±$82Highest 22% below U.S. |
$974±$72 31% below U.S. |
$891±$95Lowest 37% below U.S. |
| Appleton and Barnet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,588Lowest 15% above U.S. |
$4,489Highest 44% above U.S. |
$4,355 40% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 85.4%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
59.3%±29.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
14.3%±13.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Appleton and Barnet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±4.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.1%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Barnet and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Appleton Public Schools | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 | Mill River Unified Union School District #52 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.