Compare towns
St. Johnsbury vs Wheelock vs Barnet
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
St. Johnsbury has the most renters (46% rent).
Wheelock has the most homeowners (97.9%).
Barnet has the most expensive 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 | St. Johnsbury | Wheelock | Barnet |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,859Highest |
717Lowest |
1,855 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.2% VT: +2.8% |
-6.4%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-2.6%Highest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 42.6±4.5Lowest about the VT average |
51±5.6Highest 18% above VT |
47.7±5.3 11% above VT |
| Wheelock and Barnet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20%±3.2 VT: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.5Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.6%±4.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Barnet and St. Johnsbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.6%±3.9Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29.4%±4.7Highest VT: 21.4% |
28.8%±3.8 VT: 21.4% |
| Wheelock and Barnet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
34.9% VT: 43.8% |
35.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
2.8%±2.3 VT: 7% |
1%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
| St. Johnsbury and Wheelock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $53,711±$8kLowest 34% below VT |
$64,792±$20k 20% below VT |
$67,386±$15kHighest 17% below VT |
| Barnet and Wheelock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $174,500±$17kLowest 45% below VT |
$189,600±$37k 40% below VT |
$247,900±$24kHighest 22% below VT |
| Barnet and Wheelock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $912±$45Lowest 26% below VT |
— | $974±$72Highest 21% below VT |
| Barnet and St. Johnsbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,778 25% below VT |
$2,937Lowest 42% below VT |
$4,489Highest 11% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.2%±11.6 VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
59.3%±29.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Barnet and St. Johnsbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 19.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.7% VT: 10.1% |
8.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 54%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
97.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1989Highest 13 yrs newer than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 18% below VT |
28 min 17% above VT |
28 minHighest 17% above VT |
| Work from home | 17.6%±5 VT: 16.9% |
21.1%±16Highest VT: 16.9% |
13.3%±4.5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Wheelock and St. Johnsbury 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 | #60 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | — | — | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 |
| High school 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.