Compare towns
Sharon vs Wallingford vs Williston vs Barnet
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wallingford has the most homeowners (82.5%).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Barnet has the most affordable homes ($248k median).
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 | Sharon | Wallingford | Williston | Barnet |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,577Lowest |
2,286 |
10,144Highest |
1,855 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.9% VT: +2.8% |
+2.4% VT: +2.8% |
+16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.6±7.7 6% above VT |
45.9±10.8 6% above VT |
45.4±4.5Lowest 5% above VT |
47.7±5.3Highest 11% 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%±5 VT: 17.9% |
18.7%±5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
20.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
21.6%±4.9Highest 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+ | 25.1%±3.6 VT: 21.4% |
23.9%±3.2 VT: 21.4% |
21%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
28.8%±3.8Highest 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+ | 37.9% VT: 43.8% |
30.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
54.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
35.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.5%±0.9 VT: 7% |
1.5%±1.1 VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7Highest VT: 7% |
1%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $84,375±$17k 4% above VT |
$80,230±$15k about the VT average |
$106,967±$12kHighest 32% above VT |
$67,386±$15kLowest 17% below VT |
| Williston and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $346,700±$37k 10% above VT |
$261,900±$44k 17% below VT |
$475,800±$40kHighest 50% above VT |
$247,900±$24kLowest 22% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,386±$155 12% above VT |
$891±$95Lowest 28% below VT |
$1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
$974±$72 21% below VT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,903Highest 17% above VT |
$4,355Lowest 14% below VT |
$5,592 11% above VT |
$4,489 11% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 19.8%±17.9 VT: 48.4% |
14.3%±13.5Lowest VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4 VT: 48.4% |
59.3%±29.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Barnet and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
7% VT: 10.1% |
4.3% VT: 10.1% |
8.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.7% VT: 73.2% |
82.5%Highest VT: 73.2% |
75.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
79.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 12% above VT |
25 min 6% above VT |
20 minLowest 16% below VT |
28 minHighest 17% above VT |
| Work from home | 12.7%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
7.1%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
13.3%±4.5 VT: 16.9% |
| Williston 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 | — | — | #11 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Sharon School District | Mill River Unified Union School District #52 | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.