Compare towns
Wallingford vs Topsham 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 highest household income ($80k).
Topsham has the most affordable homes ($223k 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 | Topsham | Barnet |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,286Highest |
999Lowest |
1,855 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+2.2% VT: +2.8% |
-2.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.9±10.8Lowest 6% above VT |
50.1±5.9Highest 16% above VT |
47.7±5.3 11% above VT |
| Topsham 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% |
18%±3.4Lowest 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%±3.2 VT: 21.4% |
23.2%±4.8Lowest 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% VT: 43.8% |
28.1%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
35.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.5%±1.1 VT: 7% |
1.7%±1.3Highest VT: 7% |
1%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
| Topsham 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 |
$72,308±$60k 11% below VT |
$67,386±$15kLowest 17% below VT |
| Wallingford and Topsham 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 |
$222,900±$56kLowest 30% 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 |
$908±$398 26% below VT |
$974±$72Highest 21% below VT |
| Barnet and Topsham 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 |
$4,006Lowest 21% below VT |
$4,489Highest 11% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 14.3%±13.5Lowest VT: 48.4% |
91.9%±28.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
59.3%±29.9 VT: 48.4% |
| Topsham 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% |
18.8%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.5% VT: 73.2% |
90.3%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
1981Highest 5 yrs newer than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 6% above VT |
35 minHighest 49% above VT |
28 min 17% above VT |
| Work from home | 7.1%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
14.2%±5.8Highest VT: 16.9% |
13.3%±4.5 VT: 16.9% |
| Topsham 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 | Waits River Union High District #36 | 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.