Compare towns
Norwich vs Olean 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
Norwich has the most expensive homes ($638k median).
Olean has the most affordable homes ($86k median).
Sharon has the oldest population (median age 45.6).
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 | Norwich | Olean | Sharon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,640 |
13,738Highest |
1,577Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.8±3.2 5% above U.S. |
39±2.6Lowest about the U.S. average |
45.6±7.7Highest 17% above U.S. |
| Sharon and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 24%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
23.5%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
21%±5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Norwich and Olean are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.1%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
25.1%±3.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Sharon and Olean are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 81%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
29.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.5%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Norwich and Olean are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $140,313±$12kHighest 74% above U.S. |
$51,261±$7kLowest 37% below U.S. |
$84,375±$17k 5% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $637,500±$76kHighest 92% above U.S. |
$86,100±$6kLowest 74% below U.S. |
$346,700±$37k 4% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,460±$322Highest 3% above U.S. |
$794±$52Lowest 44% below U.S. |
$1,386±$155 about the U.S. average |
| Norwich and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$3,130Lowest about the U.S. average |
$5,903 89% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30.7%±19.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
52%±9.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
19.8%±17.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Olean and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
26.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
55.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 28% below U.S. |
14 minLowest 45% below U.S. |
26 minHighest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 21%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.7%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Norwich and Sharon 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 | #337 of 484 in NY | — |
| School district | Norwich School District | OLEAN CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT | Sharon School District |
| High school in town | None in town | OLEAN SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.2 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.