Compare towns
Wallingford vs Jay 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 shortest commute (25 min average).
Jay has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
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 | Jay | Barnet |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,286Highest |
471Lowest |
1,855 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.4% VT: +2.8% |
+5.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.9±10.8Lowest 6% above VT |
52.1±10.5Highest 21% above VT |
47.7±5.3 11% above VT |
| Jay and Barnet 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% |
14.2%±7.3Lowest 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% |
15.5%±6.3Lowest 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% |
45.1%Highest VT: 43.8% |
35.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.5%±1.1 VT: 7% |
1.9%±2.5Highest VT: 7% |
1%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
| Jay 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 |
$74,792±$25k 8% below VT |
$67,386±$15kLowest 17% below VT |
| Wallingford and Jay 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 |
$234,200±$45kLowest 26% 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 |
— | $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 |
$3,588Lowest 29% below VT |
$4,489Highest 11% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 14.3%±13.5Lowest VT: 48.4% |
40%±100 VT: 48.4% |
59.3%±29.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Barnet and Jay 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% |
8.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.5% VT: 73.2% |
97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 6% above VT |
40 minHighest 69% above VT |
28 min 17% above VT |
| Work from home | 7.1%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
13.3%±4.5 VT: 16.9% |
| Jay 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 | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.