Compare towns
Wallingford vs Williston vs Mendon 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 oldest housing (typical home built 1971).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Mendon has the shortest commute (17 min average).
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 | Williston | Mendon | Barnet |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,286 |
10,144Highest |
1,113Lowest |
1,855 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.4% VT: +2.8% |
+16.2%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+8.5% VT: +2.8% |
-2.6%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 45.9±10.8 6% above VT |
45.4±4.5Lowest 5% above VT |
53.4±10.5Highest 24% above VT |
47.7±5.3 11% above VT |
| Mendon 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% |
20.5%±5.2 VT: 17.9% |
14.6%±5.2Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.6%±4.9Highest VT: 17.9% |
| Barnet and Williston 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% |
21%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4% |
29%±1.3Highest VT: 21.4% |
28.8%±3.8 VT: 21.4% |
| Mendon 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% |
54.9%Highest VT: 43.8% |
49.4% VT: 43.8% |
35.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.5%±1.1 VT: 7% |
5.7%±2.7Highest VT: 7% |
3.1%±2.1 VT: 7% |
1%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
| Williston and Mendon 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 |
$106,967±$12kHighest 32% above VT |
$100,524±$23k 24% above VT |
$67,386±$15kLowest 17% below VT |
| Williston and Mendon 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 |
$475,800±$40kHighest 50% above VT |
$357,000±$44k 13% above VT |
$247,900±$24kLowest 22% below VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $891±$95Lowest 28% below VT |
$1,832±$130Highest 48% above VT |
$1,230±$651 about the VT average |
$974±$72 21% below VT |
| Williston and Mendon 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 |
$5,592Highest 11% above VT |
$5,342 6% above VT |
$4,489 11% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 14.3%±13.5Lowest VT: 48.4% |
46.9%±17.4 VT: 48.4% |
88.6%±42.7Highest VT: 48.4% |
59.3%±29.9 VT: 48.4% |
| Mendon 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% |
4.3%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
8.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
8.2%Highest VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.5% VT: 73.2% |
75.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
92.2%Highest VT: 73.2% |
79.9% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 5 yrs older than VT |
1993Highest 17 yrs newer than VT |
1977 1 yr newer than VT |
1974 2 yrs older than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 6% above VT |
20 min 16% below VT |
17 minLowest 28% below VT |
28 minHighest 17% above VT |
| Work from home | 7.1%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
22.3%±7.6 VT: 16.9% |
22.5%±8.9Highest VT: 16.9% |
13.3%±4.5 VT: 16.9% |
| Mendon and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #11 of 70 in VT | — | — |
| School district | Mill River Unified Union School District #52 | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | — | 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 | 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.