Compare towns
Barnet vs Springfield vs Sharon 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 oldest population (median age 47.7).
Springfield has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Sharon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.9%).
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 | Springfield | Sharon | Wallingford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,855 |
9,084Highest |
1,577Lowest |
2,286 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.6% VT: +2.8% |
-3.3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+3.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+2.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.7±5.3Highest 11% above VT |
43.2±3.7Lowest about the VT average |
45.6±7.7 6% above VT |
45.9±10.8 6% above VT |
| Barnet and Wallingford 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% |
18.6%±3.4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21%±5 VT: 17.9% |
18.7%±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% |
23.6%±3.7Lowest VT: 21.4% |
25.1%±3.6 VT: 21.4% |
23.9%±3.2 VT: 21.4% |
| Barnet and Sharon 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% |
23.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
37.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
30.3% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
2.3%±1.4Highest VT: 7% |
1.5%±0.9 VT: 7% |
1.5%±1.1 VT: 7% |
| Springfield 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±$15k 17% below VT |
$66,571±$13kLowest 18% below VT |
$84,375±$17kHighest 4% above VT |
$80,230±$15k about the VT average |
| Sharon and Wallingford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $247,900±$24k 22% below VT |
$192,400±$20kLowest 39% below VT |
$346,700±$37kHighest 10% above VT |
$261,900±$44k 17% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $974±$72 21% below VT |
$963±$100 22% below VT |
$1,386±$155Highest 12% above VT |
$891±$95Lowest 28% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,489 11% below VT |
$4,807 5% below VT |
$5,903Highest 17% above VT |
$4,355Lowest 14% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.3%±29.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
49.6%±15.6 VT: 48.4% |
19.8%±17.9 VT: 48.4% |
14.3%±13.5Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Barnet and Springfield 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% |
14.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
7% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9% VT: 73.2% |
67.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
79.7% VT: 73.2% |
82.5%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1958Lowest 18 yrs older than VT |
1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
1971 5 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 17% above VT |
27 min 16% above VT |
26 min 12% above VT |
25 minLowest 6% above VT |
| Work from home | 13.3%±4.5 VT: 16.9% |
15.1%±5.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.7%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
7.1%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Springfield and Barnet 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 | — | #64 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 | River Valley Technical Center · Springfield School District | Sharon School District | Mill River Unified Union School District #52 |
| High school in town | None in town | Springfield High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.3 |
— | — |
| 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.