Compare towns
Wallingford vs Reading vs Ripton 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 youngest population (median age 45.9).
Reading has the most people working from home (22.9%).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
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 | Reading | Ripton | Barnet |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,286Highest |
699 |
508Lowest |
1,855 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.4% VT: +2.8% |
+3.2% VT: +2.8% |
+25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-2.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.9±10.8Lowest 6% above VT |
51.1±7.6Highest 19% above VT |
47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
47.7±5.3 11% above VT |
| Reading and Ripton 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% |
18.5%±4.2 VT: 17.9% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest 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%±3.2Lowest VT: 21.4% |
28.2%±3.3 VT: 21.4% |
30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
28.8%±3.8 VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton 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% |
46% VT: 43.8% |
48%Highest VT: 43.8% |
35.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.5%±1.1 VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.5 VT: 7% |
20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
1%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $80,230±$15k about the VT average |
$85,000±$19k 5% above VT |
$112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$67,386±$15kLowest 17% below VT |
| Ripton and Reading 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 |
$377,200±$72k 19% above VT |
$394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$247,900±$24kLowest 22% below VT |
| Ripton and Reading 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 |
$1,100±$331Highest 11% below VT |
— | $974±$72 21% below VT |
| Reading 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 |
$5,754Highest 14% above VT |
$4,915 about the VT average |
$4,489 11% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 14.3%±13.5Lowest VT: 48.4% |
63.3%±31.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
52.9%±100 VT: 48.4% |
59.3%±29.9 VT: 48.4% |
| Reading 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% |
8.4% VT: 10.1% |
8.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.5% VT: 73.2% |
84.9% VT: 73.2% |
90.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971 5 yrs older than VT |
1969Lowest 7 yrs older than VT |
1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1974Highest 2 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 6% above VT |
33 minHighest 41% above VT |
24 minLowest about the VT average |
28 min 17% above VT |
| Work from home | 7.1%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.9%±10.6Highest VT: 16.9% |
17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
13.3%±4.5 VT: 16.9% |
| Reading and Ripton 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 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 |
| 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.