Compare towns
Barnet vs Strafford 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 most affordable homes ($248k median).
Strafford has the highest household income ($111k).
Sharon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.9%).
Wallingford has the oldest housing (typical home built 1971).
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 | Strafford | Sharon | Wallingford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,855 |
1,372Lowest |
1,577 |
2,286Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-0.4% VT: +2.8% |
+3.9%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+2.4% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.7±5.3 11% above VT |
51.4±4.7Highest 19% above VT |
45.6±7.7Lowest 6% above VT |
45.9±10.8 6% above VT |
| Strafford and Barnet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.6%±4.9 VT: 17.9% |
23%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
21%±5 VT: 17.9% |
18.7%±5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
| Strafford and Barnet 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% |
22.1%±3.4Lowest 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% |
53.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
37.9% VT: 43.8% |
30.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
5.1%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
1.5%±0.9 VT: 7% |
1.5%±1.1 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $67,386±$15kLowest 17% below VT |
$110,833±$19kHighest 36% above VT |
$84,375±$17k 4% above VT |
$80,230±$15k about the VT average |
| Strafford 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 |
$431,300±$40kHighest 36% above VT |
$346,700±$37k 10% above VT |
$261,900±$44k 17% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $974±$72 21% below VT |
$1,125±$789 9% below VT |
$1,386±$155Highest 12% above VT |
$891±$95Lowest 28% below VT |
| Sharon and Strafford 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 |
$7,149Highest 42% above VT |
$5,903 17% above VT |
$4,355Lowest 14% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.3%±29.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±48 VT: 48.4% |
19.8%±17.9 VT: 48.4% |
14.3%±13.5Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Barnet and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.2% VT: 10.1% |
3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
7% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9% VT: 73.2% |
88.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79.7%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
82.5% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1980 4 yrs newer than VT |
1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 17% above VT |
23 minLowest about the VT average |
26 min 12% above VT |
25 min 6% above VT |
| Work from home | 13.3%±4.5 VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±4.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
12.7%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
7.1%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Strafford 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 | Strafford School District | Sharon 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 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.