Compare towns
Wallingford vs Hardwick 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%).
Hardwick has the most affordable homes ($185k median).
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 | Wallingford | Hardwick | Barnet |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,286 |
2,965Highest |
1,855Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-3%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
-2.6% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.9±10.8Lowest 6% above VT |
47.1±7.4 9% 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 | 18.7%±5 VT: 17.9% |
15.8%±4.4Lowest 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%±3.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
27%±5.9 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+ | 30.3%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
33.7% VT: 43.8% |
35.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.5%±1.1 VT: 7% |
2.4%±2.4Highest VT: 7% |
1%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
| Hardwick 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±$15k about the VT average |
$92,297±$17kHighest 14% above VT |
$67,386±$15kLowest 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 | $261,900±$44kHighest 17% below VT |
$184,700±$39kLowest 42% 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±$95 28% below VT |
$875±$406Lowest 29% below VT |
$974±$72Highest 21% below VT |
| Barnet and Wallingford 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 |
$4,351Lowest 14% below VT |
$4,489Highest 11% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 14.3%±13.5Lowest VT: 48.4% |
48.6%±41.3 VT: 48.4% |
59.3%±29.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Barnet and Hardwick 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% |
9.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.5%Highest VT: 73.2% |
76.4%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
79.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 5 yrs older than VT |
1962Lowest 14 yrs older than VT |
1974Highest 2 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 6% above VT |
29 minHighest 23% above VT |
28 min 17% above VT |
| Work from home | 7.1%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
11.8%±6 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 | Mill River Unified Union School District #52 | Mountain View Union Elementary School District #94 · Hazen Union High School District #26 | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 |
| High school in town | None in town | Hazen Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.6 |
— |
| 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.