Compare towns
Kent vs Niantic vs Sharon
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Kent has the shortest commute (20 min average).
Niantic has the most kids (14.4% under 18).
Sharon has the most expensive homes ($591k 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 | Kent | Niantic | Sharon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,056 |
3,123Highest |
2,723Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +2.6% CT: +0.9% |
— |
| Median age | 55.8±4.3Lowest 36% above CT |
58.4±2.7 42% above CT |
59.5±6Highest 45% above CT |
| Sharon and Niantic are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 12.2%±3.4 CT: 20.2% |
14.4%±5.1Highest CT: 20.2% |
7.2%±3.2Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Niantic and Kent are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 30.6%±6.5Lowest CT: 18.5% |
35.4%±4.5 CT: 18.5% |
37.9%±9.3Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Sharon and Niantic are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55.5% CT: 42.5% |
48.2%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
56.8%Highest CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.2%±3.2Highest CT: 7.1% |
3.7%±2.6 CT: 7.1% |
3.5%±2.5Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Kent and Niantic are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $96,064±$16k about the CT average |
$81,250±$16kLowest 15% below CT |
$100,518±$15kHighest 5% above CT |
| Sharon and Kent are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $470,900±$78k 28% above CT |
$396,000±$38kLowest 8% above CT |
$590,700±$156kHighest 61% above CT |
| Sharon and Kent are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $688±$205Lowest 54% below CT |
$1,478±$259 about the CT average |
$1,750±$1kHighest 18% above CT |
| Sharon and Niantic are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,520 32% below CT |
$6,311Highest 5% below CT |
$4,484Lowest 33% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 11.5%±11.1Lowest CT: 52.6% |
58.1%±20.8 CT: 52.6% |
64%±16.2Highest CT: 52.6% |
| Sharon and Niantic are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9% CT: 10% |
3.6%Lowest CT: 10% |
10.8%Highest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.9%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
72.5%Highest CT: 66.5% |
72.5%Highest CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Highest 4 yrs newer than CT |
1953Lowest 14 yrs older than CT |
1954 13 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 23% below CT |
24 min 9% below CT |
30 minHighest 13% above CT |
| Work from home | 21.5%±6.4Highest CT: 16% |
20.8%±12.3 CT: 16% |
18.7%±6.8Lowest CT: 16% |
| Kent and Niantic 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 | #20 of 149 in CT | — | — |
| School district | Kent School District | — | Sharon School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
CT 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.