Compare towns

Wallingford vs Barre 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.4%).
Barre has the most renters (49.6% rent).
Barnet has the most people working from home (13.3%).

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.

MeasureWallingfordBarreBarnet
People
Population
2,286
8,412Highest
1,855Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+2.4%Highest
VT: +2.8%
-6.2%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
-2.6%
VT: +2.8%
Median age
45.9±10.8
6% above VT
42.2±6.6Lowest
about the VT average
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
18.7%±5
VT: 17.9%
13.5%±3.8Lowest
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+
23.9%±3.2
VT: 21.4%
19.4%±3.9Lowest
VT: 21.4%
28.8%±3.8Highest
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+
30.3%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
36.1%Highest
VT: 43.8%
35.6%
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
1.5%±1.1
VT: 7%
3.4%±1.9Highest
VT: 7%
1%±0.9Lowest
VT: 7%
Barre and Wallingford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$80,230±$15kHighest
about the VT average
$65,625±$7kLowest
19% below VT
$67,386±$15k
17% below VT
Wallingford and Barnet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$261,900±$44kHighest
17% below VT
$210,400±$15kLowest
34% 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
$891±$95Lowest
28% below VT
$1,093±$58Highest
11% below VT
$974±$72
21% below VT
Barre and Barnet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,355Lowest
14% below VT
$5,192Highest
3% above VT
$4,489
11% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
14.3%±13.5Lowest
VT: 48.4%
34.4%±10.3
VT: 48.4%
59.3%±29.9Highest
VT: 48.4%
Barnet and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
7%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
17.3%Highest
VT: 10.1%
8.2%
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
82.5%Highest
VT: 73.2%
50.4%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
79.9%
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1971
5 yrs older than VT
1947Lowest
29 yrs older than VT
1974Highest
2 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
25 min
6% above VT
19 minLowest
21% below VT
28 minHighest
17% above VT
Work from home
7.1%±3.7Lowest
VT: 16.9%
10.5%±4.1
VT: 16.9%
13.3%±4.5Highest
VT: 16.9%
Barnet and Barre 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 — #19 of 70 in VT —
School district Mill River Unified Union School District #52 Barre Unified Union School District #97 · Central Vermont Career Center Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78
High school in town None in town Spaulding Union High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school —
10.7
—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.