Compare towns
Wallingford vs Dover vs Barnet vs Mount Holly
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 youngest population (median age 45.9).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+60%).
Barnet has the most affordable homes ($248k median).
Mount Holly has the most homeowners (92.2%).
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 | Wallingford | Dover | Barnet | Mount Holly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,286Highest |
1,466 |
1,855 |
1,415Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.4% VT: +2.8% |
+60%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
+12% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.9±10.8Lowest 6% above VT |
53.5±8.3Highest 24% above VT |
47.7±5.3 11% above VT |
53.5±8.2Highest 24% above VT |
| Kids under 18 | 18.7%±5 VT: 17.9% |
10.2%±5.7Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.6%±4.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
21.2%±5 VT: 17.9% |
| Barnet and Mount Holly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 23.9%±3.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29.5%±6.2Highest VT: 21.4% |
28.8%±3.8 VT: 21.4% |
28%±4.6 VT: 21.4% |
| Dover and Barnet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
48.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
35.6% VT: 43.8% |
41.9% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.5%±1.1 VT: 7% |
2.5%±2.9Highest VT: 7% |
1%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
1.5%±1.2 VT: 7% |
| Dover 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 |
$52,313±$7kLowest 36% below VT |
$67,386±$15k 17% below VT |
$78,015±$19k 4% below VT |
| Wallingford and Mount Holly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $261,900±$44k 17% below VT |
$332,900±$55kHighest 5% above VT |
$247,900±$24kLowest 22% below VT |
$296,900±$40k 6% below VT |
| Dover and Mount Holly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $891±$95 28% below VT |
$670±$49Lowest 46% below VT |
$974±$72 21% below VT |
$1,534±$1kHighest 24% above VT |
| Mount Holly and Barnet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,355 14% below VT |
$4,510Highest 10% below VT |
$4,489 11% below VT |
$3,926Lowest 22% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 14.3%±13.5Lowest VT: 48.4% |
38.1%±17.2 VT: 48.4% |
59.3%±29.9 VT: 48.4% |
65.9%±65.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Mount Holly and Barnet 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% |
7.3% VT: 10.1% |
8.2% VT: 10.1% |
11.9%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.5% VT: 73.2% |
81.1% VT: 73.2% |
79.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 6% above VT |
22 minLowest 6% below VT |
28 minHighest 17% above VT |
27 min 13% above VT |
| Work from home | 7.1%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
23.2%±11.1Highest VT: 16.9% |
13.3%±4.5 VT: 16.9% |
12.2%±6.5 VT: 16.9% |
| Dover and Barnet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Mill River Unified Union School District #52 | River Valleys Unified School District #73 | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 | Ludlow Mt. Holly Unified Union School District #83 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.