Compare towns
Wallingford vs Whitingham vs Sheldon 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%).
Sheldon has the youngest population (median age 40.9).
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 | Whitingham | Sheldon | Barnet |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,286Highest |
1,368Lowest |
2,267 |
1,855 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.4%Highest VT: +2.8% |
-1% VT: +2.8% |
-2.5% VT: +2.8% |
-2.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.9±10.8 6% above VT |
46.4±7.1 8% above VT |
40.9±3.5Lowest 5% below VT |
47.7±5.3Highest 11% above VT |
| Barnet and Whitingham 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% |
19.8%±4.5 VT: 17.9% |
23.7%±3.6Highest VT: 17.9% |
21.6%±4.9 VT: 17.9% |
| Sheldon 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% |
31.1%±2.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
28.8%±3.8 VT: 21.4% |
| Whitingham 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% VT: 43.8% |
32.8% VT: 43.8% |
14.7%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
35.6%Highest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.5%±1.1 VT: 7% |
2.2%±1.9Highest VT: 7% |
2%±1.3 VT: 7% |
1%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
| Whitingham and Sheldon 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 |
$70,625±$11k 13% below VT |
$78,533±$25k 3% below VT |
$67,386±$15kLowest 17% below VT |
| Wallingford and Sheldon 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 |
$262,300±$30k 17% below VT |
$272,400±$61kHighest 14% below VT |
$247,900±$24kLowest 22% below VT |
| Sheldon and Whitingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $891±$95 28% below VT |
$673±$150Lowest 45% below VT |
$1,286±$379Highest 4% above VT |
$974±$72 21% below VT |
| Sheldon and Barnet 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 |
$5,055Highest about the VT average |
$3,578Lowest 29% below VT |
$4,489 11% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 14.3%±13.5 VT: 48.4% |
62.7%±47.3Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±27Lowest VT: 48.4% |
59.3%±29.9 VT: 48.4% |
| Whitingham and Barnet are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7% VT: 10.1% |
15.5%Highest VT: 10.1% |
5.1%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.2% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.5% VT: 73.2% |
85.2% VT: 73.2% |
89%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
1984Highest 8 yrs newer than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 6% above VT |
38 minHighest 62% above VT |
25 min 7% above VT |
28 min 17% above VT |
| Work from home | 7.1%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
9.7%±5.2 VT: 16.9% |
13%±3.7 VT: 16.9% |
13.3%±4.5Highest VT: 16.9% |
| Barnet and Sheldon 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 | Twin Valley Unified School District #75 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 |
| High school in town | None in town | Twin Valley Middle High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 7.8 |
— | — |
| 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.