Compare towns
Barnet vs Berlin vs Wallingford vs Sharon
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Barnet has the most affordable homes ($248k median).
Berlin has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Wallingford has the oldest housing (typical home built 1971).
Sharon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.9%).
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 | Barnet | Berlin | Wallingford | Sharon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,855 |
2,880Highest |
2,286 |
1,577Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-1.3% VT: +2.8% |
+2.4% VT: +2.8% |
+3.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.7±5.3 11% above VT |
50.6±2.4Highest 17% above VT |
45.9±10.8 6% above VT |
45.6±7.7Lowest 6% above VT |
| Berlin and Barnet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.6%±4.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
16.6%±4.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
18.7%±5 VT: 17.9% |
21%±5 VT: 17.9% |
| Barnet and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 28.8%±3.8Highest VT: 21.4% |
26.8%±4.4 VT: 21.4% |
23.9%±3.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
25.1%±3.6 VT: 21.4% |
| Barnet and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.6% VT: 43.8% |
28.5%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
30.3% VT: 43.8% |
37.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
3.9%±2.9Highest VT: 7% |
1.5%±1.1 VT: 7% |
1.5%±0.9 VT: 7% |
| Berlin and Wallingford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $67,386±$15kLowest 17% below VT |
$86,691±$21kHighest 7% above VT |
$80,230±$15k about the VT average |
$84,375±$17k 4% above VT |
| Berlin and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $247,900±$24kLowest 22% below VT |
$273,600±$31k 14% below VT |
$261,900±$44k 17% below VT |
$346,700±$37kHighest 10% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $974±$72 21% below VT |
$1,169±$171 5% below VT |
$891±$95Lowest 28% below VT |
$1,386±$155Highest 12% above VT |
| Sharon and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,489 11% below VT |
$4,418 12% below VT |
$4,355Lowest 14% below VT |
$5,903Highest 17% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.3%±29.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
41%±19.9 VT: 48.4% |
14.3%±13.5Lowest VT: 48.4% |
19.8%±17.9 VT: 48.4% |
| Barnet and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.2% VT: 10.1% |
10.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7% VT: 10.1% |
3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9% VT: 73.2% |
87.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
82.5% VT: 73.2% |
79.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1979 3 yrs newer than VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 17% above VT |
21 minLowest 10% below VT |
25 min 6% above VT |
26 min 12% above VT |
| Work from home | 13.3%±4.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
11.7%±3.8 VT: 16.9% |
7.1%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
12.7%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
| Barnet and Sharon 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 | — | #16 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Mill River Unified Union School District #52 | Sharon School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None 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.