Compare towns
Barnet vs Sharon vs Wallingford vs Monroe
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Barnet has the most affordable homes ($248k median).
Sharon has the most expensive homes ($347k median).
Wallingford has the shortest commute (25 min average).
Monroe has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.6%).
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 | Wallingford | Monroe |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,855 |
1,577 |
2,286Highest |
786Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.7±5.3 23% above U.S. |
45.6±7.7Lowest 17% above U.S. |
45.9±10.8 18% above U.S. |
51±10.4Highest 31% above U.S. |
| Monroe 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 U.S.: 22% |
21%±5 U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±7.6 U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
25.1%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
23.9%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.3%±8.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Monroe 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
25.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.5%±0.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.5%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.1%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $67,386±$15kLowest 17% below U.S. |
$84,375±$17k 5% above U.S. |
$80,230±$15k about the U.S. average |
$88,150±$7kHighest 9% above U.S. |
| Monroe 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 25% below U.S. |
$346,700±$37kHighest 4% above U.S. |
$261,900±$44k 21% below U.S. |
$312,700±$58k 6% below U.S. |
| Sharon and Monroe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $974±$72 31% below U.S. |
$1,386±$155Highest about the U.S. average |
$891±$95Lowest 37% below U.S. |
$1,104±$218 22% below U.S. |
| Sharon and Monroe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,489 44% above U.S. |
$5,903Highest 89% above U.S. |
$4,355 40% above U.S. |
$2,661Lowest 15% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.3%±29.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
19.8%±17.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
14.3%±13.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
48%±39 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Barnet and Monroe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
88.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.3%±4.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.7%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
7.1%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
3.2%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Barnet and Sharon 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 | Mill River Unified Union School District #52 | Monroe 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 |
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.