Compare towns
Barnet vs Sharon vs Peacham vs Wallingford
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).
Sharon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.9%).
Peacham has the most people working from home (24.2%).
Wallingford has the shortest commute (25 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 | Barnet | Sharon | Peacham | Wallingford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,855 |
1,577 |
887Lowest |
2,286Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.3% VT: +2.8% |
+2.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.7±5.3 11% above VT |
45.6±7.7Lowest 6% above VT |
50.1±5.7Highest 16% above VT |
45.9±10.8 6% above VT |
| Peacham 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% |
21%±5 VT: 17.9% |
20.7%±6 VT: 17.9% |
18.7%±5Lowest 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%±3.8 VT: 21.4% |
25.1%±3.6 VT: 21.4% |
33.6%±2.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
23.9%±3.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
| Peacham and Barnet 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% |
37.9% VT: 43.8% |
48.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
30.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
1.5%±0.9 VT: 7% |
5.4%±4Highest VT: 7% |
1.5%±1.1 VT: 7% |
| Peacham and Sharon 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 |
$84,375±$17k 4% above VT |
$90,000±$28kHighest 11% above VT |
$80,230±$15k about the VT average |
| Peacham 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 |
$346,700±$37kHighest 10% above VT |
$302,000±$64k 5% below VT |
$261,900±$44k 17% below VT |
| Sharon and Peacham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $974±$72 21% below VT |
$1,386±$155Highest 12% above VT |
$1,028±$248 17% below VT |
$891±$95Lowest 28% below VT |
| Sharon and Peacham 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 |
$5,903Highest 17% above VT |
$5,605 11% above VT |
$4,355Lowest 14% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.3%±29.9 VT: 48.4% |
19.8%±17.9 VT: 48.4% |
66.7%±17.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
14.3%±13.5Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Peacham and Barnet 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% |
3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
10.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
7% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9% VT: 73.2% |
79.7% VT: 73.2% |
76.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
82.5%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
1976 same as VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 17% above VT |
26 min 12% above VT |
31 minHighest 31% above VT |
25 minLowest 6% above VT |
| Work from home | 13.3%±4.5 VT: 16.9% |
12.7%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
24.2%±16.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
7.1%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Peacham and Barnet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 | Sharon School District | Peacham School District | Mill River Unified Union School District #52 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.