Compare towns
Hartford vs Lyme vs Norwich vs Sharon
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hartford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.4%).
Lyme has the most people working from home (27.2%).
Norwich has the most kids (24% 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 | Hartford | Lyme | Norwich | Sharon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,736Highest |
1,710 |
3,640 |
1,577Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.2±3.9 11% above U.S. |
48.6±7.8Highest 25% above U.S. |
40.8±3.2Lowest 5% above U.S. |
45.6±7.7 17% above U.S. |
| Lyme and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18%±3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.5%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
24%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
21%±5 U.S.: 22% |
| Norwich and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.5%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.5%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.1%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lyme and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
70.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
81%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.5%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hartford and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $78,125±$7kLowest 3% below U.S. |
$133,906±$15k 66% above U.S. |
$140,313±$12kHighest 74% above U.S. |
$84,375±$17k 5% above U.S. |
| Norwich and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $304,500±$26kLowest 8% below U.S. |
$645,000±$64kHighest 94% above U.S. |
$637,500±$76k 92% above U.S. |
$346,700±$37k 4% above U.S. |
| Lyme and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,218±$118Lowest 14% below U.S. |
$1,418±$130 about the U.S. average |
$1,460±$322Highest 3% above U.S. |
$1,386±$155 about the U.S. average |
| Norwich and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,773Lowest 85% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$5,903 89% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±12.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±29.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
30.7%±19.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
19.8%±17.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lyme and Hartford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
21 min 21% below U.S. |
19 min 28% below U.S. |
26 minHighest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 13.9%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
27.2%±5.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.7%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lyme and Norwich 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 | #34 of 70 in VT | — | #1 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Hartford School District | Lyme School District | Norwich School District | Sharon School District |
| High school in town | Hartford High School | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.6 |
— | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.