Compare towns
Hardwick vs Sheffield vs Wallingford vs Barnet
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hardwick has the highest household income ($92k).
Sheffield has the youngest population (median age 42).
Wallingford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.4%).
Barnet has the most kids (21.6% under 18).
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 | Hardwick | Sheffield | Wallingford | Barnet |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,965Highest |
573Lowest |
2,286 |
1,855 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+2.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.6% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.1±7.4 9% above VT |
42±8Lowest about the VT average |
45.9±10.8 6% above VT |
47.7±5.3Highest 11% above VT |
| Barnet and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.8%±4.4Lowest VT: 17.9% |
17.1%±6.6 VT: 17.9% |
18.7%±5 VT: 17.9% |
21.6%±4.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Barnet and Wallingford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 27%±5.9 VT: 21.4% |
19.2%±4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
23.9%±3.2 VT: 21.4% |
28.8%±3.8Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Barnet and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 33.7% VT: 43.8% |
27.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
30.3% VT: 43.8% |
35.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±2.4 VT: 7% |
5.9%±4.7Highest VT: 7% |
1.5%±1.1 VT: 7% |
1%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
| Sheffield and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $92,297±$17kHighest 14% above VT |
$58,333±$26kLowest 28% below VT |
$80,230±$15k about the VT average |
$67,386±$15k 17% below VT |
| Hardwick and Wallingford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $184,700±$39k 42% below VT |
$171,900±$50kLowest 46% below VT |
$261,900±$44kHighest 17% below VT |
$247,900±$24k 22% below VT |
| Wallingford and Barnet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $875±$406Lowest 29% below VT |
$967±$79 22% below VT |
$891±$95 28% below VT |
$974±$72Highest 21% below VT |
| Barnet and Sheffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,351 14% below VT |
$2,123Lowest 58% below VT |
$4,355 14% below VT |
$4,489Highest 11% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.6%±41.3 VT: 48.4% |
61.5%±41.2Highest VT: 48.4% |
14.3%±13.5Lowest VT: 48.4% |
59.3%±29.9 VT: 48.4% |
| Sheffield and Barnet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
6.6%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
7% VT: 10.1% |
8.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
83.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
82.5% VT: 73.2% |
79.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962Lowest 14 yrs older than VT |
1987Highest 11 yrs newer than VT |
1971 5 yrs older than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 23% above VT |
30 minHighest 28% above VT |
25 minLowest 6% above VT |
28 min 17% above VT |
| Work from home | 11.8%±6 VT: 16.9% |
6.1%±2.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
7.1%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
13.3%±4.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Barnet and Hardwick 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 | #68 of 70 in VT | — | — | — |
| School district | Mountain View Union Elementary School District #94 · Hazen Union High School District #26 | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 | Mill River Unified Union School District #52 | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 |
| High school in town | Hazen Union High School | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.6 |
— | — | — |
| 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.