Compare towns
Wallingford vs Strafford 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%).
Strafford has the most expensive homes ($431k median).
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.
| Measure | Wallingford | Strafford | Barnet |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,286Highest |
1,372Lowest |
1,855 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-0.4% VT: +2.8% |
-2.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.9±10.8Lowest 6% above VT |
51.4±4.7Highest 19% above VT |
47.7±5.3 11% above VT |
| Strafford and Barnet 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% |
23%±5.2Highest VT: 17.9% |
21.6%±4.9 VT: 17.9% |
| Strafford 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% |
22.1%±3.4Lowest 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% |
53.3%Highest VT: 43.8% |
35.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.5%±1.1 VT: 7% |
5.1%±2.6Highest VT: 7% |
1%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
| Strafford 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 |
$110,833±$19kHighest 36% above VT |
$67,386±$15kLowest 17% below VT |
| Strafford 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 |
$431,300±$40kHighest 36% above VT |
$247,900±$24kLowest 22% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $891±$95Lowest 28% below VT |
$1,125±$789Highest 9% below VT |
$974±$72 21% below VT |
| Strafford 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 |
$7,149Highest 42% above VT |
$4,489 11% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 14.3%±13.5Lowest VT: 48.4% |
44.6%±48 VT: 48.4% |
59.3%±29.9Highest VT: 48.4% |
| Barnet and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7% VT: 10.1% |
5.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.5% VT: 73.2% |
88.9%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 6% above VT |
23 minLowest about the VT average |
28 minHighest 17% above VT |
| Work from home | 7.1%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
16.1%±4.3Highest VT: 16.9% |
13.3%±4.5 VT: 16.9% |
| Strafford 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 | Strafford 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 Our Story | 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.