Compare towns

Wallingford vs Starksboro 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%).
Starksboro has the most people working from home (18.5%).
Barnet has the most affordable homes ($248k median).

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.

MeasureWallingfordStarksboroBarnet
People
Population
2,286Highest
1,939
1,855Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+2.4%Highest
VT: +2.8%
-1.2%
VT: +2.8%
-2.6%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
45.9±10.8
6% above VT
38.2±4.8Lowest
11% below VT
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%±5Lowest
VT: 17.9%
26.4%±4.4Highest
VT: 17.9%
21.6%±4.9
VT: 17.9%
Starksboro and Barnet 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%
17.4%±2Lowest
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%
39.3%Highest
VT: 43.8%
35.6%
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
1.5%±1.1
VT: 7%
3.1%±1.9Highest
VT: 7%
1%±0.9Lowest
VT: 7%
Starksboro 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
$82,188±$15kHighest
about the VT average
$67,386±$15kLowest
17% below VT
Starksboro 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±$44k
17% below VT
$287,700±$42kHighest
9% below VT
$247,900±$24kLowest
22% below VT
Starksboro and Wallingford 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
$1,306±$91Highest
6% above VT
$974±$72
21% below VT
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,355Lowest
14% below VT
$4,536Highest
10% below VT
$4,489
11% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
14.3%±13.5Lowest
VT: 48.4%
28.6%±26.3
VT: 48.4%
59.3%±29.9Highest
VT: 48.4%
Barnet and Starksboro 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%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
8.2%Highest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
82.5%
VT: 73.2%
91.3%Highest
VT: 73.2%
79.9%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1971Lowest
5 yrs older than VT
1986Highest
10 yrs newer than VT
1974
2 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
25 minLowest
6% above VT
29 minHighest
24% above VT
28 min
17% above VT
Work from home
7.1%±3.7Lowest
VT: 16.9%
18.5%±4.5Highest
VT: 16.9%
13.3%±4.5
VT: 16.9%
Starksboro 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 Mt. Abraham Unified School District #61 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.