Compare towns

Barnet vs Strafford 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 most expensive homes ($431k median).
Wallingford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.4%).

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.

MeasureBarnetStraffordWallingford
People
Population
1,855
1,372Lowest
2,286Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-2.6%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
-0.4%
VT: +2.8%
+2.4%Highest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
47.7±5.3
11% above VT
51.4±4.7Highest
19% above VT
45.9±10.8Lowest
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%
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%
23.9%±3.2
VT: 21.4%
Barnet and Wallingford 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%
30.3%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
1%±0.9Lowest
VT: 7%
5.1%±2.6Highest
VT: 7%
1.5%±1.1
VT: 7%
Strafford 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
$110,833±$19kHighest
36% above VT
$80,230±$15k
about the VT average
Strafford 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±$24kLowest
22% below VT
$431,300±$40kHighest
36% above VT
$261,900±$44k
17% below VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$974±$72
21% below VT
$1,125±$789Highest
9% below VT
$891±$95Lowest
28% below VT
Strafford and Barnet 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
$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%
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%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
7%
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
79.9%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
88.9%Highest
VT: 73.2%
82.5%
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1974
2 yrs older than VT
1980Highest
4 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
25 min
6% above VT
Work from home
13.3%±4.5
VT: 16.9%
16.1%±4.3Highest
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 Mill River Unified Union School District #52
High school in town None in town None in town None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story 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.