Compare towns
Jay vs Norwich vs Sharon
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Jay has the most affordable homes ($234k median).
Norwich has the most expensive homes ($638k median).
Sharon has the oldest housing (typical home built 1981).
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 | Jay | Norwich | Sharon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 471Lowest |
3,640Highest |
1,577 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+5.8%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+3.9%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 52.1±10.5Highest 21% above VT |
40.8±3.2Lowest 5% below VT |
45.6±7.7 6% above VT |
| Jay and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.2%±7.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
24%±5.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
21%±5 VT: 17.9% |
| Norwich and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15.5%±6.3Lowest VT: 21.4% |
16%±3.4 VT: 21.4% |
25.1%±3.6Highest VT: 21.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.1% VT: 43.8% |
81%Highest VT: 43.8% |
37.9%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±2.5 VT: 7% |
4.8%±2.4Highest VT: 7% |
1.5%±0.9Lowest VT: 7% |
| Norwich and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $74,792±$25kLowest 8% below VT |
$140,313±$12kHighest 73% above VT |
$84,375±$17k 4% above VT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $234,200±$45kLowest 26% below VT |
$637,500±$76kHighest 101% above VT |
$346,700±$37k 10% above VT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,460±$322Highest 18% above VT |
$1,386±$155Lowest 12% above VT |
| Norwich and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,588Lowest 29% below VT |
$10,000+Highest at least 98% above VT |
$5,903 17% above VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
30.7%±19.9 VT: 48.4% |
19.8%±17.9Lowest VT: 48.4% |
| Jay and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.7%Highest VT: 10.1% |
2.8%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
3% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97%Highest VT: 73.2% |
71.9%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
79.7% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 2001Highest 25 yrs newer than VT |
1982 6 yrs newer than VT |
1981Lowest 5 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 40 minHighest 69% above VT |
19 minLowest 19% below VT |
26 min 12% above VT |
| Work from home | 27.3%±13.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
21%±5.3 VT: 16.9% |
12.7%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Jay 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 | — | #1 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | Norwich School District | Sharon School District |
| 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.